Citrus fruits are a major export of Belize and many varieties are farmed on commercial scale for juicing, pulping, and shipping. But, oddly enough, not lemons. It is very difficult to get lemons in Belize and they are a treasure to be prized when you come across them. Imagine my pleasure in getting some lemons from Chris and Sue at White Rock Farm when we got all that lovely cheese. The lemons were small, juicy, and thin-skinned - and should be perfect for making Persian salt-preserved lemons. Sue told me it was very easy to do and to just look up a recipe on line. So that is what Becki and I did.
 |
| The results of our efforts - two pints of preserved lemons and some lemons to spare. |
All you have to do is scrub the lemons, cut them into quarters that remain joined at the base, rub coarse salt into the cut surfaces, and cram them into canning jars so that their juice fills the space between the lemons. No sterilizing, or heating, or cooking - just clean lemons plus salt pressed into a jar. The hard part is waiting the 3 to 4 weeks before they are ready use in your Mediterranean and Middle Eastern recipes.
I can smell that from here. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteI hope they taste as good as they look!
DeleteI will look forward to seeing them used in your recipes sometime towards the end of January.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait, but I will.
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks, e. I think they look like summer in a jar.
DeletePretty fruit!
ReplyDeleteWhen they get lemons in a grocery store in Cozumel, people alert the social media boards. "Lemons at Chadraui!"
That's hilarious! They don't even make it into grocery stores here - more like traded on the black market. Not really, but that is what it feels like. "Psst. Over here. I have some lemons."
DeleteI am able to get them occasionally at a produce stand in Placencia. Imported from Mexico or the US. But you might be able to find local lemons through Sue and Chris Harris at White Rock Farm Fine Foods . That is where I got the ones for this blog post. Very think skinned and very lemony! They do deliver to San Ignacio. Be sure and give them a try. The lemons are seasonal, so they might not be ready just yet. Sue and Chris are good friends of mine and they make some delicious products that you just can't find anywhere else in Belize. Good luck.
ReplyDeletetheir email address is sales@cheesebelize dot com
ReplyDelete