So you started your jar of preserved lemons last week, right? If so, keep this recipe handy so you can make this preserved lemon sauce in few weeks. If you happen to have preserved lemons you can make it right away. And if you did not start a jar yet, do so right away! It's so easy, and you will love all of the things you can do with preserved lemons, like making this wonderful sauce.
The Power of Sauce
If I was a chef in a kitchen brigade, the classic hierarchy of positions in the kitchen, I would be a Saucier. The Saucier is the sauce chef. I love to make sauces.
A sauce can transform the simple into the special with just a dollop or a drizzle. A sauce can take a basic preparation in many different directions, to delight your tastebuds and make your eyebrows rise. Sauces are where its at.
And many of them, like my new preserved lemon sauce recipe, keep easily for a week or more in the refrigerator. So you can take a dish from basic and boring to over the top any night of the week. It might even get your kids to eat their vegetables.
How To Make Preserved Lemon Sauce
This sauce is made with preserved lemons; lemons that have been macerating in salt and lemon juice for 30 days.
Indispensable in Moroccan and Mediterranean cooking, preserved lemons have a unique flavor and silken texture. For how to make them, read here.
To make the sauce, rinse one whole preserved lemon (4 ounces), skins and all, under water to remove excess salt. Discard any seeds. Place the lemon into a food processor or high speed blender. Add honey, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and water and puree into creamy sauce. That's it.
What To Do With Preserved Lemon Sauce
Preserved lemon sauce will keep for weeks in the fridge. Here's ideas for how to use it:
- Alongside seared halibut, cod or any mild white fish
- With grilled shrimp or scallops
- Over steamed vegetables like broccoli, broccolini, asparagus, or cauliflower
📖 Recipe
Preserved Lemon Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 whole preserved lemon 4 ounces, homemade or purchased
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons mild honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 large large clove of garlic peeled and chopped fine
Instructions
- Rinse the preserved lemon under running water to remove the excess salt. Pick out and discard any seeds. Place the lemon into a food processor with a steel knife or into a high speed blender. Add lemon juice, oil, honey, water and garlic. Puree the lemon mixture until it becomes a smooth, light and creamy sauce, about 2 minutes. If it’s too thick, add a little more water too thin. If too tart, try a little more honey. Adjust for your taste preference.
Miriam says
This is lovely with a tablespoon or two of tahini as well.
Kyle West says
I added a teaspoon of fish sauce that worked well adding a bit of umami
Sally Cameron says
Interesting Kyle! Umami is always a good thing. What readers should know is that while fish sauce smells fishy, adding just a little boosts flavor and as you said, umami. That 5th taste of earthy richness also found in foods like Parmesan cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes, olive and soy sauce. The word means delicious in Japanese. Thanks for the comment. You are an adventurous cook!
Tammie says
Hi, I am currently removing sugars and added sweeteners from my diet. Do you think it would be okay if I eliminated the honey altogether?
Sally Cameron says
Hi Tammie. You could, although it might be pretty tart. Make it without the honey and trying sweetening it with lemon stevia drops (made by SweetLeaf, SweetDrops). You could also try using a monk fruit/erythritol blend like So Nourished. They make both powdered and granular. All are on Amazon. Add for your particular taste preference. Please let me know how it works! Would be a good tip to add for people 😉
Terisa says
If I’m looking for a lemon sauce with cream in it, could I make this sauce and add a little cream when I’m heating it to serve with fish, shrimp, and pasta? Or would the cream not work with this recipe?
I definitely want to keep some of this sauce as per recipe.
Sally Cameron says
Hi Terisa. I think adding a little cream would be good. I think I've done that too for a change up. Please let me know how it works for you. Sounds like a good dish with shrimp and pasta!
Anne Pays says
Gorgeous fresh tasting sauce but mine did not thicken. So I blended one teaspoon of cornflour into it, brought it to the boil to thicken. Served as a hot sauce with salmon, broccoli and potatoes. Perfect.
Sally Cameron says
Sounds like a great solution Anne. I'm about to make some as my lemons just finished their 30 days cure and will double check it.
Lynne says
The absolutely best Meyer lemon sauce ever. I used for grilled salmon which was prepared with just a little olive oil and S+P. Fabulously lemony but not overpowering. Wow.
Sally Cameron says
Thanks for reporting back Lynne! I'll bet that was delicious salmon!
Melissa says
I made this sauce for Mother's Day to serve over grilled halibut and fresh grilled asparagus. It was delicious. I made it ahead and warmed just before serving.
Sally Cameron says
Thanks melissa! So glad to hear that. I love it over fish too, and it reminds me I better get a jar of preserved lemons going!
David says
Hello!
I want to try this. I feel like the flesh of the lemon is too salty? Should I not remove the flesh completely? When I made these 18 months ago I sure packed em with a lot of kosher salt
Sally Cameron says
Hi, use just as much salt as specified. I used sea salt, a pink Himalayan to be exact. And be sure to rinse the lemons after preserving and before using in the sauce. That helps get rid of excess salt. I also pick out the seeds, but I do use the flesh.
Kathy says
I've waited for a month to make this delicious sauce. The timer on my preserved lemons finally went off today and, the first thing I did, was make this sauce and served it over chicken for dinner. My entire family LOVED it! The combination of sweet from the honey, salty and tangy from the lemons was like firecrackers going off in my mouth. These lemons are definitely worth the effort and long wait and this sauce is a great way to use them. Thanks Sally!
Sally Cameron says
Thanks for the smile Kathy, and for reporting back. I really wondered how many people would try this because of the wait, but I just had to post it because it is so good. So happy that your family loved it!