Ever end up tossing out lemon peels after squeezing contemporary juice? Cease proper there! As an alternative of losing these vibrant citrus rinds, flip them right into a chewy, sweet-tart candied lemon peel deal with. It’s a easy, old school recipe that transforms one thing typically discarded right into a scrumptious snack, cocktail garnish, or baking ingredient.
Not solely is it straightforward to make, however this candied lemon peels recipe additionally has an extended shelf life, making it good for meal prep, gifting, or simply having readily available once you want a bit of one thing candy. Plus, it’s a good way to cut back meals waste whereas having fun with a selfmade deal with!
Why This Recipe Rawks
This candied lemon peel recipe isn’t simply tasty—it’s extremely sensible and surprisingly versatile. Right here’s why you’ll love making it:
- Reduces waste: Offers leftover lemon peels a second life as a substitute of tossing them.
- Simple to make: Just some easy elements and minimal effort.
- Versatile: Use it for baking, cocktails, snacking, or as a selfmade present.
- Lengthy shelf life: When saved correctly, candied lemon peel stays contemporary for weeks.
Candied Lemon Peel Components
You solely want two elements to make candied lemon peels (plus water). That’s it! If you happen to favor a extra pure model, you may swap granulated sugar for honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar or get extra concepts from my record of one of the best natural sweeteners.
- Lemon peels: You’ll need the peel of 4 to 5 lemons for this recipe. I like to make use of natural ones to verify there are not any pesticides within the skins.
- Granulated sugar. The sugar provides the lemon peels their candy taste, however it doesn’t overpower their naturally tangy citrus taste. You possibly can swap the sugar for date sugar or coconut sugar if you’d like a much less processed possibility.
natural lemon vs standard
I like to recommend shopping for natural lemons for this lemon peel recipe since many of the pesticides are discovered on the peel. If utilizing standard lemons, use a veggie wash and scrub the heck of out them with a bristle brush.
The right way to Make Candied Lemon Peel
Making candied lemon peel is simpler than you suppose! Simply observe these easy steps:
- Reduce the peel into 4 or extra vertical segments, protecting among the pith, then slice into 1/4-inch vast strips.
- Boil 1 cup of water with 2 cups of sugar in a pot till the sugar dissolves. Simmer the lemon peels within the syrup over low warmth for 45-60 minutes.
- Coat the recent, moist peels in sugar by tossing them in a bowl or shaking them in a ziplock bag.
- Let dry on a wire rack for a number of hours till the peels are agency and now not sticky.
Well being Advantages of Lemon Peels
Lemon peels aren’t only a flavorful addition to recipes. They’re filled with highly effective vitamins that may profit your well being in shocking methods! Right here’s why you may get pleasure from this lemon peel sweet:
- Excessive in Vitamin C: Lemon peels are wealthy in vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system, promotes healthy skin, and supports collagen production for a youthful glow.
- Wealthy in fiber: With a superb quantity of dietary fiber, lemon peels aid digestion, support gut health, and help regulate blood sugar levels, protecting you fuller for longer.
- Loaded with antioxidants: Filled with flavonoids and polyphenols, lemon peels assist fight inflammation, combat free radicals, and reduce oxidative stress, which can decrease the chance of persistent illnesses.
- Accommodates important oils: Pure compounds like limonene and citral present in lemon peels have antimicrobial properties, serving to to fight bacteria, while also offering mood-boosting and stress-relieving benefits.
- Good supply of minerals: Lemon peels present important minerals like calcium and potassium, which contribute to strong bones, proper muscle function, and a healthy heart.
Simple Swaps and Add-ins
Wish to change issues up in a recipe for candied lemon peel? Listed here are some enjoyable variations you may strive :
- Swap lemons: Strive a unique citrus taste by utilizing orange or grapefruits.
- Swap refined sugar: Use honey or coconut sugar as a substitute of refined sugar for a more healthy possibility in your candied lemon peel.
- Add spice: Add cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, vanilla bean or nutmeg to the sugar syrup for a refined depth of taste that makes your candied lemon peel much more particular.
- Add chocolate: Dip the candied peels in melted darkish chocolate for a decadent deal with.
Widespread Questions
To make lemon peel sweet, begin by slicing the lemon peel into skinny strips, protecting among the white pith for texture. To take away bitterness, blanch the peels by boiling them in water for a couple of minutes, then draining and repeating the method two extra occasions. Subsequent, put together a sugar syrup by boiling equal elements sugar and water till the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon peels and allow them to simmer over low warmth for about 45-60 minutes till they change into translucent. As soon as achieved, take away the peels from the syrup and toss them in granulated sugar whereas nonetheless heat. Lastly, unfold them out on a wire rack to dry for a number of hours till agency and now not sticky. Your selfmade sweet lemon peel recipe is now able to get pleasure from!
Candied lemon peel can last as long as a month when saved in an hermetic container at room temperature. For longer shelf life, hold them within the fridge for as much as three months or freeze them for as much as six months. To forestall sticking, layer them with parchment paper or mud them with additional sugar earlier than storing. Correctly dried and saved candied peels keep contemporary and flavorful for weeks, making them a fantastic make-ahead deal with!
Candied peels supply some well being advantages however needs to be loved carefully. Since they keep the fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and important oils present in citrus peels, they’ll assist digestion, immunity, and general well being. Nevertheless, they’re coated in sugar, which provides additional energy and reduces their dietary worth.
For a more healthy model, think about using pure sweeteners like honey or coconut sugar. Whereas not a superfood, candied peels are a tasty method to get pleasure from among the vitamins present in citrus!
Candied peel can style bitter if an excessive amount of of the white pith is left on or if it isn’t correctly blanched earlier than candying. The pith accommodates pure bitter compounds, which might overpower the sweetness of the sugar syrup. To cut back bitterness, blanch the peels by boiling them in water for a couple of minutes, then draining and repeating this course of two or thrice.
This helps take away extra bitterness whereas protecting the citrusy taste intact. Selecting thinner-skinned lemons or scraping off among the pith also can lead to a sweeter, extra pleasant candied peel.
Lemon peel is wealthy in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber, notably pectin, which can assist digestion and assist you to really feel full longer. Whereas there’s no sturdy scientific proof that lemon peel straight reduces stomach fats, together with it as a part of a nutritious diet could assist weight administration. For finest outcomes, mix lemon peel with a balanced food regimen and common train.
If you happen to make this Candied Lemon Peel, I’d love to listen to the way it turned out within the remark field beneath. Your suggestions helps me and all of the readers on this neighborhood. And for those who’re fascinated by extra plant-based recipes (and unique content material), join my weekly recipe newsletter.
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Slice each ends of the lemon. Reduce the peel on every into 4 or extra vertical segments, relying on the dimensions of the fruit. Peel off every phase of rind. Preserve among the pith. Slice the peels into 1/4 inch vast strips.
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Boil the peels in a pot of water for quarter-hour. Drain in a colander, rinse after which drain once more.
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Repeat the blanching course of two extra occasions to cut back the bitter taste from the peels.
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Add 1 cup of contemporary water and a couple of cups sugar to a pot and produce to a boil, till the sugar is dissolved. Add the lemon peels, cut back the warmth to low and simmer for 45-60 minutes, stirring sometimes, till the peels change into translucent and the syrup turns into frivolously syrupy.
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Use a slotted spoon to take away a number of of the peels at a time and let the surplus syrup drip off for a number of seconds. Place the recent, moist peels in a bowl of sugar or a ziplock bag with sugar in it and toss/shake to coat.
- For a much less bitter peel, scrape off among the white pith earlier than candying.
- Need additional taste? Add vanilla bean, cinnamon, or contemporary ginger to the sugar syrup.
- For a chocolate twist, dip the dried peels in melted darkish chocolate and allow them to set earlier than having fun with.
Retailer correctly! Preserve candied lemon peel in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as a month or refrigerate for as much as three months.
Energy: 80kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 20g, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 10mg
