Lemon And Peppercorn Confit Recipes

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 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:

• 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.

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.