Quick & Easy

How to make preserved lemons

Is your lemon tree full to the brim?
Preserved lemons

Photography by Ian Wallace, styling by Louise Pickford.

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We tend to think of preserved lemons as being a Moroccan thing, but they’re also an important part of cooking throughout North Africa, as well as Indian cuisine. Jars of preserved lemons make an excellent home-made gift, as well as being a great thing to have in your own pantry.

Once you’ve made these try them in one of our great recipes including roast chicken with green olives and preserved lemons.

Looking for more lemon recipes?

Ingredients

Preserved lemons

Method

Preserved lemons

1.Halve lemons lengthways; carefully cut each lemon half in half again, without cutting all the way through. Open lemon halves out slightly.
2.Squeeze lemons over a large non-metallic bowl to catch the juice. Add lemons to bowl with salt, bay leaves and seeds, mix well.
3.Pack lemon mixture into 1.5-litre (6-cup) sterilised jar, then pour enough of the juice into the jar to cover lemons. Place a sealed small plastic bag filled with water on top of the lemons to keep them submerged; seal jar. Label and date jar.

Store preserved lemons in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks before using. Refrigerate after opening. To use, remove and discard pulp, squeeze juice from rind, rinse rind well, then slice according to recipe. Cinnamon sticks or chillies can be added to jar before sealing.

Note

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