4 lbs of lemons

A client of mine just gave me a big bag of lemons fresh from her tree, and I'd love some ideas for how to use them in large batches. I'm interested in ideas for savory dishes; I'm not so much of a sweets-cook. Thanks in advance!

Kristen W.
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18 Comments

sexyLAMBCHOPx
sexyLAMBCHOPx March 18, 2013
I was on the Saveur site and saw this article. Maybe some ideas to use your lemons. http://www.saveur.com/article/null/Recipes-Featuring-Lemon and this article (scroll down for the savory uses of menon http://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/One-Ingredient-Many-Ways-Lemons Alao, Chicken/Veal Piccata, Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup) or lemon chicken. Roast Chicken with Saffron and Lemons sounds delish.
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx
sexyLAMBCHOPx March 18, 2013
I was on the Saveur site and saw this article. Maybe some ideas to use your lemons. http://www.saveur.com/article/null/Recipes-Featuring-Lemon and this article (scroll down for the savory uses of menon http://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/One-Ingredient-Many-Ways-Lemons Alao, Chicken/Veal Piccata, Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup) or lemon chicken. Roast Chicken with Saffron and Lemons sounds delish.
 
WannabeBaker
WannabeBaker March 17, 2013
If you're running out of ideas, you can freeze both lemon juice and zest. I don't know about you, but I use a TON of recipes that call for either or both. Zest the lemons, freeze that in a ziplock bag, and then squeeze them. Freeze the juice in measured amounts (I'd go with 2 T, as that's a common amount in recipes) in ice cube trays. When the juice is frozen, pop out of the trays and toss in another ziplock back and store in the freezer.
 
Simplyaok
Simplyaok March 17, 2013
I live in Fl and am afforded huge amounts of my favorite citrus. When the season is winding down I freeze them.. Never freeze them whole. They will turn to mush when defrosted although the juice is fine. You can quarter them and put on a cookie sheet and freeze then ziploc them. I like to zest them and keep in a jar (freeze). Juice them and freeze in ice cube trays. They last until the next season. Limoncello is a great idea and one of my favs.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. March 16, 2013
Thanks for the clarification. I'm excited to try something new! I bought some kumquats yesterday -- maybe they're next...
 
IlovePhilly
IlovePhilly March 16, 2013
Just adding my two cents. Botulism is not a problem for ferments (like preserved lemons). It isn't just the salt, but the fermentation-created acids and healthy bacteria that prevent botulism from thriving or surviving. The peels are the prized part of preserved citrus but the pulp is definitely edible, if a bit tart.
I'm not a huge fan of preserved kumquats (I'm only a big fan of them) because the skins are already edible on those, so you're not getting that much excitement out of fermenting them. But they taste freaking delicious, so go for it!
 
Flavor D.
Flavor D. March 16, 2013
Correct Kristen, Salt is a preservative and lemons have been prepared this way for many centuries by cavitations. The lemons (try other citrus; limes, oranges, etc) will be ready after one month of preserving, and will last for about 2 years. Remember, if you make these, that you must use sea salt not table salt -- table salt is very harsh and will not produce a pleasant tasting preserved lemon. A bonus, the peels are edible.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. March 16, 2013
Thanks for the encouragement, ILP! I think I will try it (plus some of the other suggestions as well). I just want to check first: there's no danger of botulism while the lemons are pickling at room temp, right? I read that they're way too acidic and salty and would need to have been canned using a water bath for that to be possible, correct?
 
SallyBroff
SallyBroff March 16, 2013
Lemon marmalade is fantastic and really easy to make.
 
Pegeen
Pegeen March 15, 2013
You could try swapping the lemons for mangos in a chutney (or combining the two): http://food52.com/recipes/395-move-over-major-grey-mango-chutney
Lemon marmalade is great: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Meyer-Lemon-Marmalade-102746
 
creamtea
creamtea March 15, 2013
I would make Moroccan cured lemons. takes about a month and lasts forever. Homegrown lemons are wonderful because they lack the wax or lacquer coating you get in store-bought.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. March 15, 2013
These are all great suggestions! And Antonia James, the recipe you mention sounds amazing! I thought of preserved lemons, but as I'm not terribly experienced with the types of cuisines that traditionally use them, thus far I've been a little reticent. Maybe now is the time...
 
IlovePhilly
IlovePhilly March 15, 2013
You can do it! They really go well with just about anything. They brighten any rice or grain dish, give spirit to soup, and make for excellent dips, dressings and sauces. If you want them to be their most versatile, just use lemons and salt with no extra spices or seasonings. They are delicious that way and really, really simple to make. Easy to add other flavors to an individual dish later.
 
Droplet
Droplet March 15, 2013
Also, Lemon Risotto is great.
 
AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames March 15, 2013
You'll find a hundred good ideas for Meyer lemons here: http://www.latimes.com/features/la-fo-meyerlemons16jan16,0,5003872.story

But I, however, would make the pickled lemons with ginger, mustard and allspice (made with tarragon vinegar!) from an early nineteenth century recipe adapted by Anne Willan in her marvelous recent book, "The Cookbook Library: Four Centuries of the Cooks, Writers, and Recipes That Made the Modern Cookbook." ;o)
 
Droplet
Droplet March 15, 2013
Make a few different batches of lemon dresing for salads, roasted potatoes with lemons and oregano, a few batches of fresh ricotta...they do keep for a long time of stored in a cool place.
 

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Flavor D.
Flavor D. March 15, 2013
Preserved lemons would be a great option for a savory cook.
 
HinOh
HinOh March 15, 2013
Limoncello! While it's not a savory dish, you could make the lemons do double duty by using the zest from a bunch of them. Depending on which recipe you use you'll have it ready by summertime.
 
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