When life gives you lemons...you preserve them!
Since we live in Berlin (Germany), life does not gives us lemons, like it's the case with most Mediterranean countries.
We have to purchase them, unfortunately.
But we don't mind buying them, knowing how exceptional they turn out, with a simple addition of salt, warmth, and a bit of time!
We start with Organic (BIO) lemons to avoid the pesticides and fungicides.
And here is the reason why:
Standard lemons can be sprayed with different preservatives and fungicides. On the pic above, there are four different substances of this kind listed, plus wax.
There's also a note saying that the peel is not suitable for consumption.
But is it only the peel?
But back to our lemons.
We wash them, cut them, and "stuff" them with unrefined sea salt.
Then, we pack them tightly into 5 L jars.
Next, we add some filtered and revitalized water.
Now our lemons are ready for fermentation.
From this moment, it'll take from 3-6 months for them to be ready. The time depends on temperature. The higher the temperature, the less time it'll take.
Here are some of them getting some sun warmth on our display window.
And even more, in this display with Fermented Jalapeños.
When the lemons are done, they can be picked up at our place in glass jars.
We sell them by the piece (meaning the whole lemon), so you can pick up as many lemons, as you need.
We love using them ourselves.
And this process of fermentation (preservation) makes them very delicious. Also salt removes the bitterness, and they taste less tart, and more citrusy.
Besides, lemons and their juice are very healthy.
There's a lot of information about them online.
Below is just a snippet taken from Heather Goesh's blog :
"Lemons are high in vitamin C and potassium. In addition to its importance for immunity and skin health, vitamin C has potent antioxidant properties to neutralize free radicals and protect cells and blood vessels from damage and inflammation, while potassium stimulates brain and nerve function and helps control blood pressure.
Studies have shown that regular moderate intake of soluble pectin fiber — found predominantly in the peel — promotes long-lasting fullness, can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and decrease risk of atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetes.
Limonene is a type of phytochemical (beneficial plant compounds) concentrated in citrus fruit. Limonene is currently being studied for anti-carcinogenic properties, specifically its potential ability to prevent growth and spread of human colon and breast cancer cells."
We use these lemons in our Fermented Jalapeños.
But these lemons can be used in a multiple of ways. They can be pureed with olive oil and tahini paste to make a simple salad dressing.
They can be chopped, and sprinkled on top of a grilled asparagus:
Or used to make Hummus, like the one with smoked Spanish paprika below:
The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients: Lemons, Unrefined Sea Salt, (Filtered and Revitalized Water when needed).
To purchase / zum Kaufen klicke bitte unten.
Disclaimer: All medical information in this post is merely information & not advise. If you need medical advice, please consult your doctor or other appropriate medical professional.
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