Best Lemon Confit Recipes

CONFIT LEEKS WITH LENTILS, LEMON AND CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If necessary, soak and carefully rinse the leek rounds in a large bowl of water to get rid of any excess grit. Drain, then cautiously pat dry, keeping the rounds intact.
• Add the leeks, garlic, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a 12-by-8-inch/30-by-20-centimeter baking dish. Mix gently to combine, then pour the oil on top. Arrange the leeks cut-side up, then cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and gently turn the leeks using two forks. Cover again with foil and return to the oven to bake until completely softened, about 35 minutes more. Turn the oven temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius/400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• As the leeks bake, fill a medium saucepan about two-thirds of the way with water and bring to a boil over high. Add the lentils and cook until just tender but not at all mushy, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• When ready, remove the confit leeks from the oven and transfer a heaping 1/2 cup/100 grams of the cooked leeks plus 5 of the garlic cloves to a bowl for the leek cream. Add the cooked lentils to the remaining leeks in the baking dish along with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper; mix gently to combine. Cover again with the foil and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and leave to settle for 10 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs.
• While the lentils bake with the leeks, make the cream: Add reserved leeks and garlic to a food processor along with the heavy cream, mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/8 teaspoon of salt; blitz until smooth.
• When ready, stir the remaining 4 tablespoons lemon juice and the chopped herbs into the lentil and leek mixture. Transfer to a rimmed platter and serve with the leek cream in a bowl alongside.

BAKED BABY BACK RIBS WITH LEMON CONFIT MARINADE

Steps:

• Make 4 vertical cuts, about 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches long, in skin of each lemon. Place lemons in microwave-safe bowl (such as soufflé dish). Cover and cook in microwave on high until skins soften and lemons release juices, about 8 minutes. Uncover and cool lemons 15 minutes. Cut lemons in half. Squeeze juice into strainer set over small bowl; reserve juice. Scoop out and discard lemon pulp and white pith from halves; reserve rinds.
• Combine 6 tablespoons reserved lemon juice, lemon rinds, garlic, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, fennel, salt, pepper, and brown sugar in processor and grind to paste. Generously smear paste on both sides of baby back ribs. Arrange ribs, meaty side up, on 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Scrape some of marinade off ribs. Place baking sheets with ribs in oven. Bake ribs 30 minutes. Reverse position of baking sheets and roast until ribs are very tender and meat begins to pull away from bones, about 35 minutes longer. Let ribs stand 15 minutes. Transfer to work surface and cut racks between bones into individual ribs. Pile ribs onto platter and serve.

MARTHA'S LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Bring a medium stockpot of water to a boil. Place a 1-quart canning jar in the boiling water for 5 minutes to sterilize. Place jar on a wire rack, upside down, to dry.
• Pour a layer of salt into the bottom of the jar. Quarter a lemon, starting at the end, but leaving the uncut end intact. Open the lemon over a small bowl, and pour some salt inside. Place the lemon in the bottom of the jar. Continue process with the remaining lemons. Be sure to use all of the salt, including any salt that remains in the bowl. Pack the lemons into the jar, and covering each layer of lemons with salt. Seal the jar, and refrigerate.
• The lemons can be used after 1 month, but they are best after 3 months and will keep for up to one year.
• To use the confit, cut the lemon quarters apart. Cut away all the flesh from the rind; discard the flesh. Dice or julienne, and add to salads, stews, or grain dishes.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH SAFFRON, OLIVES, AND LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix the ginger, saffron, olive oil, onion, and garlic together. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil mixture and cook until the onions soften, about 8 minutes.
• Carefully add 2 cups of water to the mix and bring to simmer. Add the hens, skin side down into and cook for 10 minutes at a very low simmer. Remove only the hens to a baking dish, keeping the sauce warm over a low heat. Put the hens in oven and bake until it is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Serve on warm plate, hens first, then garnish with lemon and olives. Pour reserved sauce over hens.

HALIBUT CONFIT WITH LEEKS, CORIANDER, AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coarsely grind 1 tablespoon coriander seeds in a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle. (Alternatively, you can coarsely chop with a knife.)
• Toss leeks, cilantro sprigs, oil, half of lemon slices, and 2 teaspoons ground coriander in a large roasting pan; season with salt. Roast, tossing occasionally, until leeks are tender and starting to brown, 15-20 minutes. Remove roasting pan from oven and carefully pour infused oil into a large heatproof measuring cup.
• Reduce oven temperature to 275°F. Season halibut with salt and arrange over leeks in roasting pan. Top with remaining lemon slices and ground coriander and pour infused oil over fish. Roast until halibut is just cooked through and starting to flake, 30-35 minutes.
• Cut halibut into large pieces and serve with leeks and lemon topped with chopped coriander seeds and cilantro leaves.
• Do ahead: Halibut can be roasted 1 hour ahead. Let cool and cover.

ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH LEMON CONFIT, MUSTARD GREENS, AND BLACK OLIVE MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Finely chop 6 slices of the confit and transfer to a bowl. Add the oregano and black olives, and mix well. Rub the lamb with the mixture and season with salt and pepper. Add the oil to a heavy-bottomed ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned meat, fatty side down, and reduce the heat to medium. Sear the meat until it has browned on the bottom. Scoop up any rub mixture that falls off the meat during cooking and place evenly back on top of the meat. Once the meat has the desired color, baste with the rendered fat and transfer to the oven, uncovered. Roast for about 35 minutes, until it has an internal temperature of 125°F. Remove and transfer the meat to a plate to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Discard any excess oil from the skillet and set aside.
• Place the skillet back on the stove over medium-high heat and add the mustard greens. Season with salt and pepper and stir for 1 to 2 minutes, until the greens start to wilt. Add the juices that have collected on the plate with the resting meat. Wilt the greens for another minute or so until they have absorbed the juices, and remove from the heat.
• With a sharp knife, slice the meat as thin as possible. Slice the ciabatta rolls in half and evenly spread the mayonnaise on the bottom halves. Top the mayonnaise with the meat, followed by the remaining confit and the mustard greens. Drizzle any remaining juices from the meat on top of the greens. Close the sandwiches, cut into halves, and serve.

LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Cut the lemons in half; squeeze the juice and reserve it for another use.
• Put the squeezed lemon halves in a large saucepan and add the bay leaves, peppercorns, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the white wine, and salt. Add enough water to completely cover the lemons and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook gently over medium-low heat until the lemon peel is tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the liquid.
• Drain the lemons and tear the peel into rough strips about 1 inch wide. Place a strip of lemon peel skin side down on the work surface and, using a sharp paring knife, scrape away every bit of the white pith, leaving only the yellow zest. Repeat with the remaining peel.
• Put the strips of lemon zest in a small container ond cover completely with olive oil. The confit will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for at least a week.

LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Bring a medium stockpot of water to a boil. Place a 1-quart canning jar in the boiling water for 5 minutes to sterilize. Place jar on a wire rack, upside down, to dry.
• Pour a layer of salt into the bottom of the jar. Quarter a lemon, starting at the end, but leaving the uncut end intact. Open the lemon over a small bowl, and pour some salt inside. Place the lemon in the bottom of the jar. Continue process with the remaining lemons. Be sure to use all of the salt, including any salt that remains in the bowl. Pack the lemons into the jar and covering each layer of lemons with salt. Seal the jar, and refrigerate.
• The lemons can be used after 1 month, but they are best after 3 months and will keep for up to one year.
• To use the confit, cut the lemon quarters apart. Cut away all the flesh from the rind; discard the flesh. Blanch for about 1 minute in boiling water, dice or julienne, and add to salads, stews, or grain dishes.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON "CONFIT"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking pan with olive oil.
• Lay 1/3 of lemon slices on the bottom of the prepared pan; top with 1 bay leaf and 1 chicken breast, skin side-up. Repeat layer with another 1/3 of the lemon slices and the other bay leaf and chicken breast. Cover with the remaining lemon slices. Sprinkle thyme, salt, and pepper on top.
• Place chicken on the middle rack of the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Transfer baked chicken onto a plate to rest, about 15 minutes. Transfer cooked lemons onto a cutting board. Dice and mix into the pan juices. Spoon mixture onto a serving plate with the chicken.

LEMON TERRINE WITH LEMON CONFIT AND MINT SYRUP

Steps:

• For the lemon gelatin: Place 1 cup lemon juice in a bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over, and let stand to soften, 5 minutes.
• Bring sugar and 3 1/2 cups water to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour syrup over gelatin mixture; whisk to dissolve gelatin. Add remaining 3/4 cup juice.
• Pour 1/3 cup gelatin mixture into a 4-cup porcelain terrine mold. Press mint leaves into gelatin. Cover; refrigerate to set, 45 to 50 minutes. Add remaining gelatin mixture. Cover; refrigerate until firm, 4 hours.
• For the lemon confit: Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place lemons in a single layer in a Pyrex dish. Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour over lemons. Bake until translucent, about 45 minutes. Let cool.
• For the mint syrup: Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate. Blanch mint in boiling water for 30 seconds, strain, and plunge into ice water. Drain; squeeze in a kitchen towel to dry. Puree syrup and mint in blender. Strain, and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
• To serve: Unmold terrine by dipping briefly into hot water and running tip of knife around edge; invert onto a platter. Serve with lemon confit and mint syrup.

LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (yellow part only) from lemons in long strips. Squeeze 6 tablespoons juice from lemons. Blanch peel in small saucepan of boiling water 10 seconds; drain. Repeat twice. Bring 6 tablespoons lemon juice, olive oil, canola oil, garlic, and pinch of salt to simmer in small saucepan. Add lemon peel and simmer over low heat until peel is soft, about 1 hour. Cool. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 month ahead. Keep chilled and completely covered in oil. Always use clean fork to remove lemon.

LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Place the lemons, 2 to 3 tablespoons salt, peppercorns, and lemon juice in a quart jar and cover with water. Store chilled for 3 weeks.

PEA STEW WITH PISTACHIOS AND LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the peas. Cook peas until bright green and tender, about 3 minutes. Immediately transfer the peas with a slotted spoon to an ice-water bath; let cool. Drain well.
• Blend 1 cup peas, 1/4 cup stock, and 2 tablespoons herbs in a blender until smooth. Blend in up to 1/4 cup more stock to thin to a pourable consistency.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook, stirring, until shallot is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups peas, the confit, nuts, remaining 3/4 cup stock, the pea puree, and remaining 2 tablespoons herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Discard garlic. Stir in lemon juice.

LEMON CONFIT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• 1. Make the lemon confit: In a medium saucepan set over high heat, add the lemon halves and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer very gently until the lemons are very soft, about 45 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer the lemons to a cutting board. Once they are cool enough to handle, use a teaspoon to scrape out the fruit and pulp, discard. Use the edge of the teaspoon to gently scrape away the white pith so you are left with 4 lemon cups. 2. In a small saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the lemon cups and simmer until translucent, about 25 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the confited lemon cups and set aside to cool. (Save the simple syrup for cocktails, iced tea or other drinks.) 3. Make the vinaigrette: To the bowl of a food processor, add ½ of a confited lemon rind, the anchovy fillets, egg yolks, mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Process until combined, then through the feed tube drizzle in the oil in a slow and steady stream. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

LEMON CONFIT FOR PEA STEW

Steps:

• Cover lemon slices with water by 1/2 inch in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Drain. Repeat 3 times. Return slices to pan. Add syrup. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until slices are just translucent, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Refrigerate slices in syrup in an airtight container until ready to use, up to 1 week. Before using, drain slices on paper towels, and then finely chop.

LEMON-RED PEPPER CONFIT

Steps:

• Cut peppers into thin strips. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots, and cook until they begin to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add red peppers, wine, salt, and pepper. Cover, and cook until wine is almost absorbed, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove lemon zest in long thin strips, and set aside. Use a small, sharp knife to cut away pith. Remove lemon sections by sliding the knife down one side of a section, cutting it away from the white membrane. Twist blade under section to lift it out. Remove all sections, cut them in half, and add to peppers along with zest. Toss to combine, and serve.

TINY LEMON ANGEL CAKES WITH LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• To make the confit: Cut a slice off the top and bottom of each lemon to expose the flesh. Cutting from top to bottom and following the contours of the fruit, cut off the peel and white pith in 1-inch wide strips. Scrape off any pulp adhering to the strips, but leave the pith intact.
• You now have several 1 inch wide strips of lemon peel and pith. Cut each one into long strips, about 1/4 inch by 3 inches each.
• Meanwhile, boil a kettleful of water. Pour about 2 cups of the boiling water into a small saucepan, bring back to a boil add all the lemon rind, and boil for 30 seconds. Drain in a strainer and rinse the rind under cold running water. Repeat 2 times more, using fresh boiling water each time.
• Combine the sugar and 2 cups of tap water in the saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the blanched rind and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer the rind until tender, about 1 hour. Drain the rind in a strainer (reserve the sweet, lemony syrup for sweetening drinks, if you like). Arrange the strips on a wire rack, using your fingers to gently spread them out so that they do not touch each other. Let them cool and store them in an airtight container.
• To make the cake: Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Sift the sifted cake flour with 1/2 cup of the sugar 3 times (this is to aerate the mixture and make it lighter). Set aside.
• Whip the egg whites in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and salt and continue whipping until soft peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually add the remaining cup of sugar and continue whipping until the egg whites are stiff and the sugar is dissolved, about 30 seconds more.
• Fold the sifted flour-sugar mixture into the whites by hand just until incorporated. Fold in the lemon zest and vanilla extract.
• Spoon or pipe the batter into the cups of the ungreased mini muffin tin, filling the cups until almost full (they will not expand much). Bake until the cakes are light golden brown, 12 to 16 minutes.
• Let the cakes cool in the tin, then run a butter knife around the edges to cut the cakes free, leaving the browned walls and bottom of the cake in the pan. Remove the cakes from the tin and place on a wire rack set over a sheet pan.
• To finish the dessert, stir the glaze ingredients together until smooth, Turn the cakes over to the brown top becomes the base. Dip the new top (the white side) of each cake into the glaze, then carefully place it on the wire rack, glaze side up, to set.
• Chop the lemon confit (you may not need all of it) and make a little mound of chopped confit in the center of each cake. Let the glaze set for 30 minutes before serving the cakes.

LEMON AND PEPPERCORN CONFIT

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan filled with water to a boil over medium heat. Cut each lemon in half, and scrape out pulp. Roughly chop the pulp; set aside. Julienne the lemon peel to a 1/4-inch thickness. Place the lemon peel in the saucepan. Simmer about 10 minutes. Drain; rinse under cold water.
• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, honey, and 1/2 cup water. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat. Cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Break cinnamon sticks into pieces. Add cinnamon, peppercorns, lemon peel, and pulp to honey mixture. Cook about 25 minutes more, until the lemon peel is very tender and liquid is slightly caramelized. Transfer from heat. Serve, or store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 2 weeks.

LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• Slice lemons 1/8-inch thick. Layer half the lemons slices and shallots in a pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of salt. Repeat layering process with remaining ingredients. Cover the pan with plastic wrap making sure the plastic touches the top layer of lemons. Leave the pan overnight or up to 48 hours. Rinse the lemon slices and use as you would preserved lemons.

PRAWNS A LA PLANCHA WITH GARLIC AND LEMON CONFIT

Steps:

• On a Japanese mandoline, slice the garlic as finely as possible; it should be translucent.
• Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven to 250 degrees F. Add the sliced garlic and cook until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the head and tail pieces intact. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large saute pan over high heat until oil is almost smoking. Season 6 prawns with salt and pepper and add to hot oil. Cook 1 minute on each side and then transfer to a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all prawns are cooked, adding more oil as needed.
• Arrange prawns on a plate and drizzle with the Lemon Confit, using some of the oil. Sprinkle with garlic chips and chopped parsley.
• Prepare the Lemon Confit a couple days in advance. Slice the lemons lengthwise and place in a stainless steel pot. Add all remaining ingredients, except olive oil, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer; too much heat will cause the lemon to fall apart. Simmer for 15 minutes and then pour into sanitized mason jars. Seal and let cool in refrigerator.
• When ready to use, scrape out the pith of the lemons with a knife and cut up the skin into small cubes. Immerse in olive oil a couple hours prior to using.