Olive oil and lemons are regarded as superfoods. It is well known that olive oil is very good for the heart and keeps cholesterol in check. Instead, lemons promote blood circulation and contain valuable antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Infusing lemon with olive oil is a great way to add flavor to dishes like pasta, rice, potatoes, fish, vegetables, and chicken. A beautiful personalized bottle of lemon flavored olive oil can also be a perfect gift. Prepare it by soaking fresh, pungent lemon peels in a clean container with high-quality olive oil.
Steps
Step 1. Buy 6 lemons from your local greengrocer or organic market
Choose ripe lemons. You can recognize them as they are heavy for their size, have a bright yellow color and to the touch the rind is covered with fine specks
Step 2. Use extra virgin olive oil
If you don't have it at home, buy it at the supermarket or health food store. The extra virgin quality is considered the best for its characteristic light flavor and also goes very well with all dishes and cooking methods.
The recommended doses are about 3 cups (70 ml) of oil and 6 lemons. If you have a one-liter bottle it's still fine
Step 3. Wash the lemons in cold running water
Dry them by blotting them with a paper towel or leaving them out in the open on a cutting board.
Step 4. Peel them
Discard any pieces that have pulp attached. For the infusion only the zest should be used and possibly there should be no traces of pulp.
Step 5. Let the rinds dry for about 1 hour
If moisture gets into the oil or the rind, bacteria or mold could form.
Step 6. Place the dry peels in an airtight jar or container
If you want to give a gift, choose a bottle with decorations or otherwise pretty.
For the quantities indicated in this recipe, we recommend using a 95 cl jar. If you want to use more or less lemons and oil, you will need more jars or a smaller one
Step 7. Pour the extra virgin olive oil into the jar, over the lemon zest
Close it well.
Step 8. Let the infusion rest for 2 weeks
Store the jar in a dry place away from heat sources.
Step 9. After 2 weeks, drain the oil with a colander
Now you can discard the zest used to make the lemon tea.
Step 10. Pour the oil into the same jar or into a new one for storage or gifting
Step 11. Research how you can use lemon flavored oil
You can find interesting recipes in books, magazines or on the internet. We recommend that you visit the following sites: The Food Network, Cooking.com and Epicurious.
If you are giving a gift, attach a postcard with recipes to the jar. Handwrite or print them and attach the postcard to the jar with a nice ribbon
Advice
- If you can, use organic lemons. Many people prefer the taste of organic citrus fruits and appreciate the fact that they are grown without pesticides or other chemicals.
- Make sure you use clean, dry containers. Moisture would contribute to the formation of bacteria and causing botulism or mold growth.
