15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (2024)

We all have secret ingredients we fall back on to make our meals a little brighter. Maybe you use sun-dried tomatoes or leftover garlic in every recipe you try. But sometimes you want to add something truly vibrant to your meal, an ingredient that will make all the other flavors in your dish sing. These 15 preserved lemonrecipes showcase what’s sure to be your next favorite secret ingredient.

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (1)

Moroccan Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

Preserved lemons add big flavor to vegetarian dishes. These stuffed peppers are a satisfying meatless meal. (via Port and Fin)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (2)

Lamb Tacos With Preserved Lemons and Fenugreek Aioli

Lamb is delicious, but its gamey flavor often requires a little *something* to set it off. Preserved lemons and a fenugreek aioli more than do the trick in this recipe. (via Talia Bunting)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (3)

Preserved Lemon Chicken Soup With Rosemary

Reinvent a comfort food classic with this recipe. Tangy citrus and woodsy rosemary add a whole new dimension of flavor to your favorite childhood dish. (via Soup Addict)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (4)

Roasted Cauliflower With Capers and Preserved Lemons

Cauliflower can taste kind of boring on its own. Mix it with preserved lemon and capers, however, and you’ve got a *star* side dish that you’ll want to make again and again. (via Eat in My Kitchen)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (5)

Preserved Lemon Couscous Salad

Pearl couscous has a heartier bite than the instant stuff you’re used to. Add in some nuts, fruits, chickpeas, and preserved lemon, and you’ve got an entree-worthy salad. (via Goodie Godmother)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (6)

Oven Fries With Feta and Preserved Lemon

You won’t miss the ketchup when you eat these fries. They’re seasoned with feta and punchy, salty citrus, for a dish of potatoes that actually tastes light. (via Cravings in Amsterdam)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (7)

Roasted Tomato and Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette

Salads don’t have to be boring, and making your own dressing is the easiest way to bring them new life. Bright and sunny with the flavors of tomato and lemon, this vinaigrette is great on everything from hearty kale to roasted veggies. (via Mid-Life Croissant)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (8)

Classic Moroccan Preserved Lemons

You can save a lot of money at the store by making your own preserves. This recipe has just two ingredients: lemons and salt. (via Cooking the Globe)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (9)

Penne With Burrata, Peas, and Preserved Lemons

Buttery burrata cheese turns any pasta dish into a decadent experience. It can be a little rich, though, so some fresh green veggies and a bit of acid help balance things out. (via Fix Me a Little Lunch)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (10)

Fennel and White Bean Soup

A hearty, creamy white bean soup always hits the spot. Jazz up the flavor with sweet fennel, fresh lemon juice, and minced preserved lemon to give every bite a slight pucker. (via Maikin Monomin)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (11)

Roast Chickpea Cauliflower Bowl With Preserved Lemon and Mint

Roasted cauliflower combined with chickpeas is a hearty combo that works well in vegetarian main dishes. Seasoned with preserved lemon and mint, it will make your lunch hour feel a little more special. (via My Goodness Kitchen)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (12)

One-Pot Pasta Chermoula

Some one-pot pastas can taste bland, but thanks to preserved lemon chermoula, this recipe is bursting with flavor. Add a few veggies and some beans for protein, and you’ve got an easy peasy weeknight meal. (via Eat Loves Eats)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (13)

Sweet Potato Cakes With Preserved Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Creamy, tangy yogurt sauce makes these crispy sweet potato cakes. Serve atop a bed of greens and you’ve got an easy, elegant dinner. (via My Berkeley Kitchen)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (14)

Preserved Lemon Chicken Skillet

Don’t let yourself fall into a boring chicken rut. Pair it with bold ingredients so you never find yourself dreading your own dinner. (via Joanie Simon)

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (15)

Blistered Shish*to Peppers With Burrata

In the mood for a snack but short on time? Consider making this blistered shish*to dish! It's one of the easiest preserved lemon recipes to make and is guaranteed to hit the spot. (via Veggie Society)

This post has been updated.

Header image via Eat Loves Eats

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Justina Huddleston

Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.

15 Preserved Lemon Recipes That Will Make Your Taste Buds Tingle (2024)

FAQs

What does 2 year old preserved lemon taste like? ›

The flavor of a preserved lemon needs no justification. It's mellow yet intensely lemony, with none of the nose-tickling bright high notes of the fresh lemon.

What is the best salt for preserved lemons? ›

Slice each lemon from the top to within ½ inch of the bottom, almost cutting them into quarters but leaving them attached at one end. Rub kosher salt over the cut surfaces, then reshape the fruit. Cover the bottom of the jar with more kosher salt. Fit all the cut lemons in, breaking them apart if necessary.

Are preserved lemons good for you? ›

Preserved lemons are fermented, which makes them a rich source of vitamin C and a healthy dose of probiotic bacteria. The fermentation process increases the already high level of vitamins. A diet rich in vitamin C is fantastic for building and sustaining the immune system.

How long does a jar of preserved lemons last? ›

Properly stored in the fridge, salt-preserved lemons can keep for a good 6 months. It is important to use a good canning jar with a tightly closed lid, and make sure the lemons are well submerged in the lemon juice. Some sources say they will last a good year, that may be, but I like to play it safe.

How long does an unopened jar of preserved lemons last? ›

Seal jars and store in refrigerator for at least 2 weeks and up to 6 months.

Can preserved lemons be too salty? ›

Since preserved lemons are brined in salt, giving them a quick rinse before using them is a sound way to remove any excess saltiness. The rinsed lemons will still be quite salty; you aren't losing out on any of their flavor by rinsing them.

Can you buy preserved lemons at the grocery store? ›

Preserved lemons are available in most bigger supermarkets, but they're really easy to make at home, too. They will keep for up to a year without refrigeration.

Can I use iodized salt for preserved lemons? ›

Use at least 1 tablespoon of salt per lemon. Use a pure, non-iodized salt.

What can I do with a jar of preserved lemons? ›

Fragrant, strongly flavoured preserved lemons are well worth the wait. You can use a tiny bit each time stirred through mashed potato to serve with fish, mixed into rice for prawn curry, or in a tagine for authentic Moroccan flavour.

Can I use bottled lemon juice for preserved lemons? ›

If the juice released doesn't cover the lemons, add more freshly squeezed lemon juice (do not use water or bottled lemon juice). Close the jar and store in the refrigerator to ripen, shaking the jar every day for three to four weeks.

Should you refrigerate preserved lemons? ›

There's no need to refrigerate after opening. Preserved lemons will last for up to 1 year.

Do you rinse preserved lemons before using? ›

For even more control, rinse the preserved lemons with cold running water to tame their salinity.

Are pickled lemons the same as preserved lemons? ›

Although they are more commonly referred to as preserved lemons, the fermentation process creates the preserved or pickled lemons and helps develop their striking flavor -- so to call them a kind of pickle is strictly correct.

How do you know if preserved lemons have gone bad? ›

Can preserved lemons go bad? They can, especially if they are not fully submerged in the brine or if the jar is not sealed correctly. Signs of spoilage include an off odor, mold growth, or a mushy texture.

What should preserved lemons taste like? ›

Moroccan preserved lemons are a flavor powerhouse, offering both the tart acidity of fresh lemons and a salty, tangy funkiness coaxed out during the curing process.

Do preserved lemons taste different? ›

Preserved lemons are basically lemons that have been cured in salt. Over time, the salt softens and tames their peel, taking it from hard and somewhat bitter to very soft and salty/tart.

What does expired lemon juice taste like? ›

If you detect any other odors other than fresh lemon juice, it's time to toss it. Taste test. Spoiled juice loses its distinctive citrusy flavor. Instead of being sour and slightly sweet, it will taste bad and bitter.

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