No lemons next year. Our poor tree almost died in the terrible freeze. The little bit that is left (it looks like one of those hairy dogs after a major haircut, only the "hair" in this case was living matter) got some buds, but they did not set.
We're going to have this on couscous.
Have you ever had preserved lemons?
Claudia Roden's recipe from Arabesque (Knopf, 2005) is my choice for its sheer clarity and sure-footedness.
iT. Susan Chang for NPR
Makes 4 servings
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 onions, grated or very finely chopped
2 to 3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon crushed saffron threads or saffron powder
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 chicken, cut up in 8 or 10 pieces
Salt and black pepper
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons chopped coriander
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Peel of 1 large or 2 small preserved lemons
12 to 16 green olives
In a wide casserole or heavy-bottomed pan that can hold all the chicken pieces in one layer, heat the oil and put in the onions. Saute, stirring over low heat, until they soften, then stir in the garlic, saffron and ginger.
Put in the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and pour in about 1 cup water. Simmer, covered, turning the pieces over a few times and adding a little more water if it becomes too dry. Lift out the breasts after about 15 minutes and put them to one side. Continue to cook the remaining pieces for another 25 minutes or so, after which time return the breasts to the pan.
Stir into the sauce the lemon juice, the chopped coriander and parsley, the preserved lemon peel cut into quarters or strips, and the olives. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes, until the reduced sauce is thick and unctuous. If there is too much liquid, lift out the chicken pieces and set aside while you reduce the sauce further, then return the chicken to the pan and heat through.
Present the chicken on a serving dish with the olives andlemon peel on top of the meat.
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3 comments:
I am making this tomorrow!
I have four large jars of preserved lemons in the refrigerator (a friend had a bumper crop) and have been looking for ways to use them.
Thanks for your marvelous blog.
Sounds heavenly! I've never encountered preserved lemons other than a few I peeled and froze in chunks for my iced tea or G&T. I'm sad about you poor tree. If it recovers, you might check out this Australian lady's uses for her lemons:
http://handmadebycarolyn.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=lemon
So sory abut your tree and hope it recovers! I 'cheat' (no yard) and buy a preserved lemon confit which is sublime spread on salmon filets or chicken, then baked in oven.
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