You can use lemon peel in various ways to add flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. It's a versatile ingredient that can enhance the taste of many recipes.
Ways to Use Lemon Peel
Lemon peel provides a bright, citrusy flavor without the acidity of the juice, making it a great addition to many meals. Here's how you can incorporate it:
Making Lemon Extract
- Description: Lemon peel can be used to create a homemade lemon extract. This extract is ideal for adding lemon flavor to dishes without the sweetness of lemon juice.
- Uses:
- Marinades: Use lemon extract in marinades for poultry or fish to add a citrusy zest.
- Baked goods: Enhance the flavor of muffins, such as poppyseed muffins, by adding lemon extract.
- Liqueurs: You can even use your homemade lemon extract as a base ingredient to make limoncello.
Other Applications for Lemon Peel
While the reference focuses on lemon extract, here are some additional common uses for lemon peel:
- Zesting: The most common way to use lemon peel is by zesting it. Lemon zest is used in:
- Baking: Add zest to cakes, cookies, and pies for a bright flavor.
- Sauces: Zest complements both sweet and savory sauces.
- Drinks: Garnish cocktails and teas with zest.
- Candied Peel: Lemon peels can be candied and enjoyed as a sweet treat or used in baked goods.
- Infusions: Add lemon peels to oils or vinegars to infuse them with citrus flavor.
- Flavor Enhancer: Dried lemon peels can be added to spice blends, rubs, and teas for a subtle citrus note.
Summary Table
| Method | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon Extract | A concentrated flavor derived from lemon peels. | Marinades, Baked goods (muffins), Limoncello |
| Zesting | The outer, colored part of the lemon peel grated into fine pieces. | Baking, sauces, drinks |
| Candied Peel | Lemon peels preserved in sugar syrup. | Sweet treats, baking |
| Infusions | Steeping lemon peels in oils or vinegars to extract flavor. | Infused oils, vinegars |
| Flavor Enhancer | Dried lemon peels added to blends. | Spice blends, rubs, teas |
Using lemon peel creatively can add a new dimension of flavor to your cooking and baking endeavors. Whether you are making extract or using zest, lemon peels offer versatile options.
