• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Delicious Table logo

  • All Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
    • July 4th, Memorial, Labor Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve and Day
    • Superbowl Party & Game Day Food
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • Cinco de Mayo
    • Mother's Day Recipes
  • Party Food
    • Cookout
    • Grill, BBQ, and Smoke Recipes
    • Holiday
    • Game Day Food
    • Comfort
    • Appetizers & Snacks
  • Shop Kitchen Collection
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • About
    • Lisa Hatfield’s Bio
    • Work With Lisa
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Press
  • Culinary Adventures
  • Reader Favorites
  • Cooking Tips
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • 🍽 DELICIOUS TABLE
  • 👩‍🍳 RECIPE GUIDE
  • 💌 SUBSCRIBE
  • 📖 FREE eCOOKBOOK
  • 🎄HOLIDAY RECIPES
  • 🏆 MOST POPULAR RECIPES
  • 🛒 SHOP
×

Preserved Lemons

Published: June 27, 2021 | Last Updated: December 8, 2021 | Lisa 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Last Updated December 8th, 2021 at 02:58 pm by Lisa

A graphic for Preserved Lemons with a large quart jar filled with them.

Preserved lemons add intense "lemony" flavor. Try on roast chicken, grilled fish, potatoes, lemon hummus, or mix into pasta and salads.

One of my favorite ways to use them is in my lemon vinaigrette dressing.

Lemons are a staple in my kitchen, and I use both the zest and fresh lemon juice in many of my recipes to add brightness. When you preserve the lemons, they take on an extra "lemony" punch that a squeeze from a lemon can't quite match.

I love lemons. I really, really do.  Now I love them even more. 🍋🍋🍋

The hardest part of this recipe is to wait at least three weeks before the preserved lemons are ready to use...

Delicious Table logo
Join Our List

And receive a free recipe ebook as our thank you.

How To Make Preserved Lemons

STEP 1: Cut off the stems and ½" of lemons ends. Slice each lemon lengthwise down but keep attached at the bottom into quarters.

STEP 2: Open each lemon on the plate, and sprinkle sea salt generously over each open lemon.

STEP 3: Place a tablespoon of sea salt and the bay leaves in a clean mason jar. Next, add the salted lemons into the mason jar. It's fine if you have to pack them in, as they will shrink smaller.

STEP 4: Juice remaining lemons and completely cover the cut ones in the jar with lemon juice. Pour any salt or lemon juice from the plate into the jar. 

PRO TIP: Leave 1" space from the top of the jar. Be sure all the lemons are pushed down into the juice, or the lemons will spoil.

Let your jar sit for a day, lightly covered with a clean towel or cheesecloth on the counter.

The Next Day

STEP 5: The next day, pour a thin layer of olive oil over the lemons and their juice. Close up your jar. This will help keep them sealed while they preserve. 

STEP 6: After a few days, place the jar in the refrigerator allowing them to cure for 3-4 weeks.

Preserved lemons last up to six months in the fridge.

PRO TIP: When you use some of them, start a new clean jar. Place new salted lemons on the bottom, add the already preserved lemons back on top. This makes it easier to get the lemons ready for cooking.

Preserved Lemon Recipes

Try your Preserved Lemons in these delicious recipes.

  • classic Morrocan dishes
  • roast chicken
  • top on grilled fish
  • roasted fingerling potatoes
  • lemon hummus
  • mix chopped into green salads
  • toss into grain salads
  • add to lemon vinaigrette dressings
  • dice finely add to chicken noodle soup!
  • add to a chicken pasta dish
  • couscous
  • lemon olive tapenade

More Lemon Recipes

  • Parmesan Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Coconut-Lime Lemon Bars
  • Lemon-Dill Butter
  • Limoncello

CRAVING MORE?

Get my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more Delicious Table recipes!

A large clamp jar of Preserved Lemons with a brown craft paper tag that says Preserved Lemons.
Print Pin Recipe

Preserved Lemons

Preserved lemons add INCREDIBLE fresh intense "lemony" flavor; try on roast chicken, grilled fish, or lemon hummus. Mix into drinks, salads, and dressings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 1 day
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 52kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

https://amzn.to/34UpOcl
Lemon/Lime Juicer

Ingredients

Preserved Lemons Ingredients

  • 12 lemons Seedless, or Meyer Lemons preferred
  • ½ cup coarse kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 fresh bay leaves optional
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cut off the stems and ½" of lemons ends. Slice each lemon lengthwise down but keep attached at the bottom into quarters.
  • Open each lemon on a plate, and sprinkle salt generously over each open lemon.
  • Place a tablespoon of salt and the bay leaves in a clean mason jar. Next, add the salted lemons into the mason jar. It's fine if you have to pack them in, as they will shrink smaller.
  • Juice the remaining lemons and completely cover the cut ones in the jar with lemon juice. Pour any salt or lemon juice from the plate into the jar. Important: Leave 1" space from the top of the jar, be sure all lemons are pushed down into the juice, or the lemons will spoil.
  • Let your jar sit for a day, lightly covered with a clean towel or cheesecloth.

The Next Day

  • The next day, pour a thin layer of olive oil over the lemons and their juice. Close up your jar. This will help keep them sealed while they preserve. After a few days, put in the refrigerator allowing them to cure for 3-4 weeks.
  • Preserved lemons last up to six months in the fridge.
  • PRO TIP: When you use some of them, start a new clean jar. Place new salted lemons on the bottom, add the already preserved lemons back on top. This makes it easier to get to the lemons ready for cooking.

Notes

Preserved Lemons: 12 Incredible Ways To Use Them in Recipes

Use preserved lemons (seeds removed): sprinkle chopped preserved lemons on classic Morrocan dishes, roast chicken, grilled fish, roasted fingerlings, or in lemon hummus.
Mix into chopped into green or grain salads and vinaigrette dressings. Dice finely, add to chicken noodle soup, a chicken pasta dish,  couscous, or olive tapenade appetizer.
Try different flavors by adding spices to the preserved lemons—vanilla beans, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon sticks, or peppercorns. 

Nutrition

Calories: 52kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1416mg | Potassium: 149mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 57.3mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com
5.0K shares

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krystle Wainscott says

    February 06, 2021 at 3:48 pm

    When you add fresh lemons to the bottom and already preserved lemons on top, do you still leave the jar out and then add olive oil? Or do you put straight in the fridge because some of them are already preserved?
    Thanks for the info! I have a jar on the counter preserving!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 08, 2021 at 10:08 am

      Hey Krystle, good question! You can add them at the bottom and pop the jar back in the fridge...main thing is to be sure to have olive oil covering your lemons or they spoil. The ones at the bottom will preserve within a week or two and be ready for recipes! Enjoy!

      Reply
  2. Colette says

    March 10, 2018 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    Finally, they are ready! The wait was killer but it was worth it. Cracked these babies opened today and added them to freshly made hummus. Lemon-y-licious! Can't wait to experiment using these with other dishes.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm LISA! Welcome, can I get you something delicious to eat? Let's find that recipe you are craving. Delicious Table features simple recipes, holiday and party food ideas.

Find out more →

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL

MOST POPULAR RECIPES

  • The Best Cheeseburger
  • 15 Lemon Recipes
  • Homemade Dog Food Recipe
  • Lobster Ravioli
  • Limoncello
  • Classic Taco Salad

ALL READER FAVES ►

COOKOUT & JULY 4TH RECIPES

  • Lamb Gyros With Greek Tzatziki Sauce
  • Cherry Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches
  • Homemade Relish
  • Burger Sauce
  • The Best Burger Seasoning
  • Mexican Street Corn (Authentic Elotes)

MORE RECIPES ►

Footer

Most Popular "Reader Favorite" Recipes

A person holding a messy grilled burger topped with melted cheese, burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

The Best Cheeseburger

A pile of bright yellow lemons in a pile ready to make lemon recipes.

15 Lemon Recipes

A white ceramic dog dish that says woof filled with homemade dog food.

Homemade Dog Food Recipe

A white plate filled with heart shaped lobster ravioli garnished with parsley.

Lobster Ravioli

Two small glasses of icy cold limoncello (lemoncello) ready to sip.

Limoncello

A white plate full of taco salad topped with taco meat, grated cheese, Fritos, sour cream, black olives and tomatoes.

Classic Taco Salad

Three golden crispy edged hash browns baked in a muffin tin on cutting board.

Oven Baked Hash Browns

A square collage of colorful grilled food at a cookout with a logo that says Cookout Menu.

Cookout Menu

A small clear jar filled with sun dried tomatoes and topped with olive oil, rosemary, garlic, and basil for use in recipes.

Sun Dried Tomatoes

A red bowl with fluffy vanilla frosting ready to frost a cake.

Fluffy Buttercream Frosting

A large glass clamp jar filled with pickled eggs, fresh jalapeno slices, and spices.

Jalapeno Pickled Eggs

A large pork loin roast with a lot of dry rub seasoning pouring over the top.

Grill & BBQ Rub

A graphic showing lots of food for July 4th including cheeseburgers, corn, and baked beans.

100+ July 4th Recipes

A Cinco de Mayo party with frozen margaritas, guacamole, and chips on a green table.

CoronaRita Margaritas

A white casserole dish with roasted pulled pork just out of the oven and seasoned with bbq rub.

Oven Roasted Pulled Pork

A large white spoon scooping a serving of cowboy baked beans out of a casserole dish.

Cowboy Beans

More Delicious Recipes

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER

As an Amazon Associate and Affiliate Marketer, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click a product affiliate link on Delicious Table and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you, ever!  I own every cooking product I recommend and love how they perform. Happy Cooking! Lisa XO

I've Been Featured On

Lisa Hatfield Torres with Delicious Table shares everyday and holiday fresh seasonal ingredient real food recipes, cooking techniques, kitchen tips, and more at www.DeliciousTable.com.

PLEASE FOLLOW US!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Reader Faves!

A person holding a messy grilled burger topped with melted cheese, burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

The Best Cheeseburger

A pile of bright yellow lemons in a pile ready to make lemon recipes.

15 Lemon Recipes

A white ceramic dog dish that says woof filled with homemade dog food.

Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Copyright © 2021 ♥︎ Delicious Table ♥︎ Privacy policy ♥︎ Accessibility Statement