Preserved Lemons

This is the recipe we used at our riad in Marrakech.

Preserved lemons are the salty /pickled ones they have in Morocco and you need these in a lot of recipes- especially the yummy chicken tagine with green olives and lemons.

It´s so easy to do, and everyone knows how, so I didn´t think to picture it every time. I even had a video of our hotel receptionist that just took a quick break to featured in a video so I could send it to a guest to show how to do it ! I´ll share when I find it –  can´t believe I can´t find my old Morroco pictures right now. They´re either lost forever or in a storage box somewhere.

Until I find them, I have this beautiful plate of lemons I found in the souks near our house in Marrakech, and finally,  a picture of the oldest ones we made further down the page. They´re not off, they just get more brown and dull looking – but more delicious.  

And I have just one picture at the end, of my own preserved lemons made in Gran Canaria from locally grown lemons I was gifted. Funny how the Moroccan tiles are very commonplace there too – well it´s closer to the N.African coast than Europe after all !

In Morocco, they use lemons preserved for different numbers of months or years for different recipes – the longer they are left the darker and tastier they are.  These ones are the oldest we had – the taste is more mellow but unctuous !

Try them after 2 months, 4 months, 6months to see the difference. You´ll have to make several jars though to build a collection because it´s hard to resist using them once you´ve made it. 

Kitchen tools

A Chopping board like this simple long lasting one

A Sharp Knife like this simple chef knife

mason jars (like the picture above) to keep them in, or multi-purpose, wide neck ball jars like these pictured below. 

Essential ingredients

• 3 lemons
• 5-6 teaspoons salt
• An extra lemon for extra juice
• Water that has been boiled and cooled (sterile)

Method

Step 1

You can make however many preserved lemons you like, but you need to fit as many as you can in a jar ( usually 3 will do ).

Step 2

Thoroughly clean the lemons. Organic is recommended.
If you can’t find organic, let the lemons sit in some vinegar water for a few minutes, then rinse.

Step 3

Put one teaspoon of salt into the cavity of each lemon.

Step 4

Place one teaspoon salt into the bottom of the jar.
Put a lemon in the jar, cut-side down, pressing firmly to squish out the lemon juice.
Put a teaspoon of salt on top of the lemon.
Firmly press the second lemon down on top of the first lemon.
Repeat with the third lemon, pressing down firmly.
Add a teaspoon of salt on top of the lemon.

Step 5

The jar should be halfway full with lemon juice by now.
If needed, squeeze some additional lemon juice into the jar to bring it to the halfway point.
Don’t waste that lemon; slice it and stuff the slices into the jar.
Pour the boiled/cooled water into the jar to fill it to the top.

Step 6

Screw the lid on and let it sit at room temperature for 3 days, shaking it and rotating the jar upside-down/right-side up a few times a day. After 3 days transfer the jars to the fridge and let them sit for at least 3 weeks before using.

Step 7

Store in the fridge once opened.

Step 8

Remember,  it’s the peel that is used, so before using you can discard the pulp and wash the peel to remove excess salt.

Stay in Touch

Thank-you to Tengyart from Russia for this sad to mad eggs image.

Eggs can be the most difficult things to cook well, and I feel this image represents all the emotions from cook to chef.

Makes us giggle.