How to make Preserved Lemons

Name: How to make Preserved Lemons
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 21 d 10 min
Yield: 20 to 30
Ingredients: 7 to 10 Meyer lemons; kosher salt

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5.0

81 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
10 mins
Preserving Time
21 d
Total Time
21 d 10 mins
Servings
20 to 30
Calories
50 kcal
Course
Condiments
Cuisine
Middle Eastern, North African

How to make Preserved Lemons

Bianca Sampson

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Balanced, flavorful, and enjoyable—this recipe has it all.

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Ingredients

Servings

7 to 10 Meyer lemons (or regular lemons if not available), plus 1-2 extra lemons for juicing*
kosher salt (lots of it)

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Instructions

Grab a large canning jar that is just large enough to hold the lemons (a 32-ounce jar will hold about 7 to 10 Meyer lemons; if you want to halve this recipe, use a smaller jar). Cover the bottom of your canning jar with 1 to 2 tablespoons of kosher salt.Note: I like to use a canning jar with a rubber gasket to prevent the lid from corrosion.
Rinse the lemons and scrub them really well. Set aside 1 or 2 lemons for juicing at the end.
Cut off a thin slice from both ends of each lemon so they have a flat bottom. Stand the lemon up and slice lengthwise, almost all the way through but keep the lemon attached at the base. Flip the lemon by 90º and slice lengthwise again, as if quartering the lemons into wedges, but not all the way through.
Gently pry the lemons open but do not detach them. Fill each crevice with a generous amount of kosher salt (a generous tablespoon in my estimation). Seal the lemons up to close.
Add a few lemons to the jar. Press them down with a muddler, a pair of tongs, a pestle, or a sturdy spoon so that they release their juices and you can make room for more lemons. Pack the jar as tightly as you can with the salted lemons, pressing down to cover them with their juices. NOTE: If the juice released does not cover the lemons, squeeze the juice from the reserved 1 or 2 lemons on top. If covered by their juices and you have a little extra space, you can salt the remaining lemons and add them to the jar.
Cover the lemons with 2 tablespoons of kosher salt (and any optional flavorings). Seal the jar and let it sit at room temperature (I store it in my pantry) for at least 3 weeks, or until the lemon rinds are very soft. Gently shake the jar every day, turning upside down, for the first 2 weeks.
When ready to use, you can use the entire lemon, but it’s more common to scoop out the flesh and use only the peel. If desired, wash the lemon peel before using to make slightly less salty (I don't typically do this).

Notes

*If your lemons are very small, you’ll need more of them. Regular lemons tend to be a bit bigger than Meyer lemons, so you might not need as many. If organic lemons are available, choose those since you'll be eating the peel.
For optional flavoring ideas, see the "Frequently Asked Questions" section

Nutrition Information

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Calories 50kcal (3%) Protein 1g (2%) Sodium 234mg (10%) Potassium 192mg (5%) Fiber 2g (8%) Vitamin A 0.1IU (0%) Vitamin C 47mg (52%) Calcium 19mg (2%)