Sun Cured Pickled Lime Or Lemon Wedges Recipes

MOROCCAN PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Scrub lemons thoroughly under cold running water. Cut each lemon into quarters, but do not cut all the way through the top, so that the lemon still holds together.
• Rub lemons generously with salt inside and out and along all the cuts. Place them in a large sterilized jar with a tight-fitting lid. Add lukewarm water to cover; the lemons should be fully immersed. Screw on the lid and let cure for 1 month in a dark, dry, and cool place.

QUICK PRESERVED LEMONS

Steps:

• Trim the ends off the lemons. Slice each lemon into 8 wedges, removing any seeds as you go. Reserve as much of the juice as possible.
• Layer the lemon wedges in a wide-mouthed 16-ounce canning jar, covering each layer with salt. Pack the jar as tightly as possible, pressing down to release the lemons' juice as you go and leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace in the jar.
• Cover the wedges with the reserved lemon juice from the cutting board and the ends. If your lemons do not release a significant amount of juice, top off the jar with the juice of another lemon.
• Stash in the refrigerator for 4 days, then flip the jar over and age another 4 days before sampling. The peel should be nice and soft. Rinse before using.

SUN-CURED PICKLED LIME (OR LEMON) WEDGES

Steps:

• 1. Wash and wipe dry the limes. Cut each one into 8 wedges and place in a large sterile glass jar. Mix in the ginger, salt, and ajwain seeds, cover the jar with your palm or the lid and shake vigorously to mix.2. Uncover, add the lime juice, and shake the jar again. (The juice should cover the limes by about 1/2 inch if not, add some more lime juice.) Cover the jar with the muslin, securing it with a rubber band, and place in a warm, sunny spot in the kitchen or outside in the sun. (If the pickle jar is outside in the sun, bring it inside in the evening.)3. Shake the jar once or twice each day, until the lime wedges are soft and light buff in color, and the juices are thick, 15 to 20 days. This pickle stays fresh at room temperature almost indefinitely.VARIATION: Along with ajwain seeds, add 1 tablespoon each ground cumin and coriander, and 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper.From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.