Preserved Lemon Polenta Food

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Soak the lemons for 2 days before preparing this recipe. Change the water twice.
• Remove the nut end of the lemon (the end that attaches the lemon to the tree). Slice a cross two-thirds of the way up the lemon. Fill with rock salt, don't be shy. Place into glass jar. Repeat this process until there are enough lemons compacted into the glass jar. Make sure there is enough room (about 1/4 of the jar) left at the top to accommodate any excess juices from the lemons. Secure tightly with the lid and place in a cool dark place for at least a month.
• Some people add 1/2 cup of fresh water to encourage the process of preservation, with the addition of olive oil to act as a sealant on top of the lemons. These last two processes are not necessary. Some people also add cinnamon sticks and cloves or black peppercorns, it entirely depends on your individual taste. Simple is best.
• The lemons will then be preserved and ready to use. They last for about 4 years.
• Remember not to use a jar with a metal lid as this will affect the preserving process and the metal may erode.

SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH PRESERVED LEMON AND POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring clam juice, water, and cream to a boil over medium high heat; gradually whisk in polenta.
• Reduce heat and simmer polenta until thick and tender, stirring constantly, 15 to 20 minutes (halve the time if using cornmeal).
• Stir in hot pepper sauce and season with salt and pepper; cover and keep warm (if it becomes too firm stir in warm water and stir over low heat).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat; season shrimp with salt and pepper and add to skillet.
• Sear about one minute per side, then remove to a plate (will not be cooked through).
• To the skillet, add fennel, tomatoes, shallot, preserved lemon, and garlic.
• Saute until fennel is tender, about 4 minutes.
• Add Pernod, or wine, and boil one minute; add cream boil one minute.
• Return shrimp to skillet, toss until opaque in center, about one minute.
• To serve: spoon polenta onto plates, top with shrimp and sauce.

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Sterilize a 1-quart glass preserving jar with boiling water right before filling with lemons. Slice lemon from bud end to within 1/2-inch of stem end. Turn lemon 90 degrees and repeat. Open lemon slightly and pack inside with salt. Pack into jar and repeat with remaining lemons. Add enough lemon juice to cover to the top. Add pickling salt and close jar tightly. Set aside to pickle for at least 3 weeks. Every few days, turn jar over to redistribute juices and let stand on its head for a few days, then invert again.;

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Wash 10 of the lemons thoroughly and dry them completely (reserve the remaining 3 to 4 lemons for juicing). Cut off about 1/4 inch from the tip of the 10 lemons, then cut them almost all the way into quarters, keeping the ends attached.
• Mix the sugar and 3/4 cup salt in a small bowl. Gently open each quartered lemon, use a small spoon to fill it with the salt mixture and close it back up. Place the lemons and remaining salt mixture in a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours and up to overnight. After this time, the lemons will have released some of their juices and become squishy.
• Transfer the salted lemons and oregano if using to a sterilized quart glass jar with tight lid, pressing them tightly into the jar; you want as little space between the lemons as possible. Squeeze enough juice from the reserved lemons (about 3/4 cup) to fill the jar with lemon juice. You may need more or less juice, depending on the size of the lemons.
• Refrigerate the lemons, turning the jar upside down every few days and then placing it back in the refrigerator right-side up, until the rinds are soft, 3 to 4 weeks. You can keep the preserved lemons in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

AROMATIC BRAISED OXTAIL WITH PRESERVED LEMON POLENTA

Steps:

• Mix flour, chile, salt and pepper and coat oxtails well. In a hot stock pot, coat bottom with oil and sear oxtails until all sides are browned. Pull out oxtails and wipe out stock pot. Saute onions, fennel, celery, carrots, garlic, ginger and lemon grass. Deglaze with wine and reduce. Add tomatoes, soy, thyme and bay. Add water to completely cover meat. Check for seasoning: the broth should taste well seasoned. Bring to boil then simmer on low heat for 3 hours. The meat should fall off of the bone. Remove oxtails and reduce sauce by 20 percent. Using a hand blender, puree sauce. Check for seasoning. Serve on top of polenta.
• PRESERVED LEMON POLENTA: In a saucepan, saute shallots and ginger in 1 tablespoon of butter. Add polenta, lemons, stock, salt, pepper and butter. Check for seasoning. Stir well and cover tightly. Bake in 400 degree oven for 1 hour. A crust will form. Break through crust for polenta.

PRESERVED LEMON POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Add 1 teaspoon salt to the water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat, cover the pot and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the parsley, dill, mint and scallions in a large bowl. Add the red onion and olives and stir to combine.
• Once the potatoes are cooked, drain and let them cool completely. Chop the boiled potatoes into bite-size (about 3/4-inch) pieces. Add the potatoes to the bowl with the herbs and toss. Remove the flesh of the preserved lemon (discard the seeds and save the flesh for another use.) Finely chop the lemon rind (peel); you should have about 2 tablespoons. Add the rind to the bowl along with the garlic, olive oil, honey, 2 tablespoons of preserved lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Give it a good stir and taste; if it needs more salt, add another 1 tablespoon or so of the preserved lemon juice (see Cook's Note). Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

PRESERVED FRESH LEMONS

Steps:

• Soak the lemons in water for 2 to 3 days, changing the water 2 - 3 times, once a day.
• Pat the lemons dry and quarter them from the top to just above the bottom, about 1/2" - leaving them in one piece.
• Open up the lemons slightly, and sprinkle the sea salt onto the cut flesh - reshape them afterwards, so they look whole again.
• Place half the remaining salt in the bottom of a large Sterilising jar; I use 1.5 litre Kilner jar for this amount.
• Pack the lemons in and add the bay leaf and spices amongst the lemons.
• Add the remaining salt & press down to release the lemon juice from the lemons.
• Pour over the lemon juice - it's difficult to say exactly how much, but the last time I made these, I used about 500mls of unsweetened lemon juice; and in the past, I have used between 6 & 8 fresh lemons, squeezed - depending on the juiciness & size of lemons!
• Seal and leave for at least one month; these will last up to 6-10 months in ideal conditions, dark & cool.
• When you come to use the lemons, make sure you rinse them thoroughly beforehand.
• IDEAS: Chop them up finely and add to baked fish dishes; put a whole lemon in to the cavity of a chicken to roast - take it out when cooked, and chop up finely and add to any gravy or sauce; Cut into quarters and add to tagines & stews; finely dice a lemon and add to sauces and stocks for stews & crockpot recipes -- the list is endless!

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Toss the lemon slices in kosher salt to coat, and place them into a sterile 2 quart glass jar. Pour in the lemon juice, cover tightly, and let stand on the counter for 1 week. Turn the jar over daily. At the end of the week, top the jar off with enough olive oil to cover the lemons. This will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 months.
• To use, pull the lemon pulp from the peel, and scrape out the pith to leave only the yellow rind. Julienne, and add to your favorite dish for a lemony zing.

PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Scrub thin skinned unblemished lemons and dry well.
• Cut each into 8 wedges.
• Toss with a generous amount of salt and Packing tightly in sterilized glass 1/2-pint jars with a glass or plastic-coated lid.
• Pour in Fresh lemon juice to make sure the lemons are well covered.
• The first week rotate jars shaking jar each day to distribute salt and juice.
• Then place in a dark spot for 2 weeks before using.
• To use, rinse the lemons, as needed, under running water, removing and discarding the pulp, and excess salt if desired.
• Add to Mediterranean salads, sliced lemons to chicken, lamb or fish 1/2 way through cooking, add coarsely minced lemon to rice water, couscous, or any grain water before adding the grains.
• There is no need to refrigerate after opening.
• Preserved lemons will keep up to a year, and the pickling juice can be used two or three times over the course of a year.

SHRIMP SCAMPI WITH QUICK PRESERVED LEMON AND FENNEL ON POLENTA

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Bring clam juice, 2 1/4 cups water, and cream to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk in polenta. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer polenta until thick and tender, stirring constantly, 15 to 20 minutes. Add hot pepper sauce; season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover to keep warm (if polenta becomes firm, add 1/3 cup water and stir over low heat to loosen and rewarm).
• For scampi:
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp on 1 side with coarse salt and pepper. Add to skillet; sear 1 minute per side. Transfer shrimp to plate. Add fennel, tomatoes, shallots, preserved lemon, and garlic. Sauté until fennel is tender, about 4 minutes. Add Pernod; boil 1 minute. Add cream; boil 1 minute. Return shrimp to skillet. Toss until just opaque in center, about 1 minute.
• Spoon polenta onto plates. Top with shrimp and sauce.