Lemon Puree Food

QUICK PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Trim the ends off the lemons. Slice each lemon into 8 wedges, removing any seeds as you go. Reserve as much of the juice as possible.
• Layer the lemon wedges in a wide-mouthed 16-ounce canning jar, covering each layer with salt. Pack the jar as tightly as possible, pressing down to release the lemons' juice as you go and leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace in the jar.
• Cover the wedges with the reserved lemon juice from the cutting board and the ends. If your lemons do not release a significant amount of juice, top off the jar with the juice of another lemon.
• Stash in the refrigerator for 4 days, then flip the jar over and age another 4 days before sampling. The peel should be nice and soft. Rinse before using.

LEMON PUREE

Steps:

• Place sugar and 2 1/8 cups water in a pressure cooker; heat over low heat and cook, stirring, to dissolve sugar. Add lemon zest and flesh to pressure cooker and cover. Bring to 15 PSI (or 2nd ring on most cookers).
• Once pressure is reached, set a timer for 35 minutes; reduce heat to maintain pressure. Do not overpressure. Swirl contents periodically to avoid burning. Strain to remove any seeds.
• Transfer zest and flesh to the jar of a blender; add 3/4 cup liquid and puree until smooth. Let cool completely before using.

LEMONY CHICKPEA PUREE

Steps:

• Drain and rinse chickpeas and put them into a saucepan. Cover with cold water by 2 inches. Add salt and pepper, to taste, smashed garlic cloves and the bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer beans until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Drain, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Remove the bay leaves and discard.
• Put cooked chickpeas into a food processor or blender. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, whole garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Process until smooth; add some of the reserved cooking liquid to thin if, needed. Serve as a base to grilled marinated lamb or put into a serving dish and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and the parsley.

SALMON IN LEMON BRODETTO WITH PEA PUREE

Steps:

• To make the Lemon Brodetto, warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until tender, about 7 minutes. Add the lemon juice, zest, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and keep warm, covered, over low heat.
• To make the Pea Puree, combine the peas, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor and puree. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady drizzle. Transfer the pea puree to a small bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Set aside.
• To make the Salmon, warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Season the salmon pieces with salt and pepper. Sear the salmon until a golden crust forms, about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the fish and continue cooking until medium-rare, about 2 minutes more depending on the thickness of the fish.
• To assemble the dish, add the tablespoon chopped mint to the Lemon Brodetto and divide between 4 shallow dishes. Place a large spoonful of Pea Puree into the center of each bowl. Place a salmon piece atop each mound of Pea Puree. Serve immediately.

QUICK LEMON PUREE RECIPE (TRY WITH LIMES!)

Steps:

• Wash the lemons. Make sure to remove any waxy residue.
• Trim the ends and discard.
• Slice into ¼" slices and remove the seeds.
• Combine the sliced lemons, lemon juice, water, salt and herbs (if using) in a small saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat and cover. TIP: Check often to make sure the liquid hasn't evaporated. Add more water or lemon juice if needed.
• Simmer until the rinds are tender and translucent, 10-15 minutes.
• Let cool completely.
• Remove any herbs, if using.
• Transfer to a blender (I like to use my Nutribullet for this) and puree until thick and smooth (think baby food consistency). If too thick, add water or more lemon juice, 1 teaspoon at a time.
• Store in a small airtight jar and refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze (see note).