• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Salima's Kitchen

  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfasts
    • Desserts
    • Drinks & Cocktails
    • Main Dishes
    • Moroccan
    • Puerto Rican
    • Salads
    • Sauces
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Moroccan Recipes
  • Puerto Rican Recipes
  • Portfolio
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Moroccan » Preserved Lemon Recipe (A Traditional Moroccan Staple)

    Preserved Lemon Recipe (A Traditional Moroccan Staple)

    ★★★★★ from 1 reviews
    Mar 1, 2019 / by Salima Benkhalti / 1 Comment(updated Jun 16, 2022)

    86 shares
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    a cutting board with a scored lemon
    a bowl of preserved lemons
    a bowl of preserved lemons

    Preserved lemons are a Moroccan cuisine cooking staple. This recipe for preserving lemons is quick and easy, and adds a great depth of flavor to a wide variety of Moroccan marinades, tagines, salsas, sauces and more! Prepped within 10 minutes, this recipe yields 6 preserved lemons.

    a bowl of preserved lemons

    If you enjoy the flavor profile of these lemons, you will love how they are celebrated in authentic Moroccan recipes like this homemade chermoula marinade, Moroccan chicken tagine, and lamb shank tagine.

    This post contains affiliate links; this means if you purchase an item linked, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Click here to learn more about my disclosure policy.

    Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make Moroccan preserved lemons:

    • lemons, scored into quarters
    • freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • salt

    Exact quantities available below.

    How to Make Preserved Lemons

    a cutting board with a scored lemon

    Prep. Wash and scrub the lemons to remove any dirt from the skin. Score into quarters and rub each section with salt.

    preserved lemons in a jar

    Can. Squeeze into your canning jars and sprinkle with more extra salt. Pour lemon juice over the lemons and salt, making sure to add enough liquid to cover the lemons. Loosely seal with the lid.

    a jar of preserved lemons

    Preserve. Let sit on the counter for 1 week before moving to the fridge for 2 more weeks or until the skin is soft and can be easily punctured with a butter knife. Use in sauces, marinades and with roasted dishes! 

    Fresh vs. Preserved

    If you've never tried lemons prepared this way before, you may be wondering what the big deal is.

    The difference between a Moroccan preserved lemon and a fresh one is truly night and day.

    While lemons are known for their bright, acidic flavor, preserving them tames the sharp sourness, and lends to a rich umami lemon flavor.

    This recipe calls for only two ingredients (lemons and salt), the result is a rich flavor that adds depth to just about any savory dish.

    Moroccan chicken tajine with couscous

    Recipes with Preserved Lemons

    Many of the most popular recipes in Morocco require preserved lemons to develop the rich and unique broth.

    Here are some of my favorite recipes with preserved lemons to try out:

    • Tangia (Moroccan Lamb Shank Tagine)
    • Chicken Tagine (see image below)
    • Stuffed Moroccan Trout
    • Chermoula
    • Moroccan Fish Stew
    • Spicy Potatoes
    • Vegetable Tagine
    • Lentil Salad
    • Harissa Hot Sauce

    And here are some general ideas for using the lemons:

    • Marinades for chicken (pictured below), fish, or veggies
    • Stews and soups
    • Salsas or sauces of any kind
    a bowl of preserved lemons

    Equipment

    For this recipe you will need some good quality canning jars with air tight lids.

    Bismillah,

    Salima

    Print

    Preserved Lemons (A Moroccan Cooking Staple)

    a bowl of preserved lemons
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    Preserved lemons are a Moroccan cuisine cooking staple. This recipe for preserving lemons is quick and easy, and adds a great depth of flavor to a wide variety of Moroccan marinades, tagines, salsas, sauces and more! Prepped within 10 minutes, this recipe yields 6 preserved lemons.

    • Author: Salima Benkhalti
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 3 weeks
    • Yield: 4 lemons 1x
    • Category: side dish
    • Method: preserved
    • Cuisine: Moroccan, North African, Mediterannean, African
    • Diet: Vegan

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 4 lemons, scored into quarters
    • 1 cup lemon juice (about 4 additional lemons)
    • ½ cup salt

    Instructions

    1. Prep. Wash and scrub the lemons to remove any dirt from the skin. Score into quarters and fill each lemon generously with salt, rubbing it to coat each section.
    2. Can. Squeeze the lemons into canning jars and sprinkle with another few tablespoons of salt. Fill the jar with lemon juice, making sure it covers the lemons completely. Loosely seal with the lid.
    3. Preserve. Let sit on the counter for a week and then transfer to the fridge for an additional 2 weeks or until the skin is soft and can be easily punctured with a butter knife. Use in sauces, marinades and with roasted dishes! 

    Keywords: preserved lemons, Moroccan preserved lemons

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @salimaskitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #salimaskitchen

     

    « Seared Salmon Sushi Bowls
    Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Olives »

    Reader Interactions

      Leave a comment & rate this recipe Cancel reply

      If you tried this recipe and loved it, please consider leaving a star rating and comment. Your reviews help other readers to discover my recipes. Your support means more than you know to me!

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

      Comments

    1. Steve

      June 28, 2022 at 11:34 am

      A staple in our home! Thanks for the easy steps.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Reader Favorites

    • Asopao de Pollo
    • Puerto Rican Flan
    • Piña Colada on the Rocks
    • Moroccan Tomato Salad
    • Picadillo

    Features

    a list of brands Salima has worked with

    recipe categories

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer
    • Learn more about Salima's Kitchen

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Portfolio

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Salima's Kitchen
    Support by Foodie Digital

    86 shares