15 Best Lemon Recipes for Winter Preserves

Lemon contains a large amount of vitamin C, so its consumption boosts immunity and helps combat cold symptoms. During the cold season, citrus preserves are especially useful. There are many lemon recipes for the winter, varying in preparation techniques and ingredients.

The intricacies of preserving citrus for the winter: secrets and tips from chefs

One of the secrets of preparing citrus is removing the seeds. Leaving them in will make the flavor more bitter over time. For this reason, it's recommended to buy citrus varieties with a low seed content.

When determining the ratio of lemon to sugar, experienced cooks adhere to a 1:1 ratio. Too much sugar will cause a loss of flavor, while too little can trigger fermentation.

Selecting and preparing lemons

For preparations, you need to select whole fruits with smooth skin, without visible damage. Specimens with dents and puncture marks will not be able to release much juice, will have a shorter shelf life, and will negatively affect the taste of the product.

Citrus fruits are prepared by slicing or blending. Many people peel the peel during preparation, but this is only practical if the peel is old and hardened.

It is the peel that contains the bulk of useful elements, so ripe fresh fruits are used for preparations.

Recipes and delicious ways to preserve lemon

The flavor of citrus fruits allows them to be used in a variety of recipes. When choosing a preparation method, consider the available ingredients, the desired method of preparation, and your taste preferences.

We prepare the zest

Before zesting a lemon, rinse the fruit thoroughly under water and rub it with the rough side of a sponge to remove any dirt. There are several ways to zest washed fruit, including:

1. Using a special knife, carefully cut away the zest layers one by one, from top to bottom. This method is considered the easiest and allows you to remove the peel without leaving any residue.
2. Using a kitchen knife, cut in a spiral motion. Starting at the top and working down to the base of the fruit, you can remove all the zest.
3. Zesting with a vegetable peeler. While this method is simple, it loses a lot of essential oils and juice.

Once you've collected enough zest, grind it, mix it with sugar, and stir. Place the candied zest in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.

Recipe for flavored jelly

Making jelly takes little time, and even a novice cook can handle the recipe. To prepare the mixture, heat water and add sugar and grated zest. Stir the ingredients constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved, then simmer for another 10 minutes.

After removing the pan from the heat, add gelatin, which thickens the mixture. Once cooled, add lemon juice and refrigerate until completely set.

Let's prepare healthy candied fruits

Candied fruit is an unusual dessert. To prepare this healthy treat, follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Rinse the lemons, cover with cold water and leave for 30 minutes.
2. After half an hour, the fruits are cut into 3-4 mm thick circles and the seeds are removed.
3. Pour water, sugar, and chopped fruit into a saucepan. Simmer the ingredients over low heat for 20 minutes, then gently stir and continue cooking for the same amount of time.
4. Remove the container from the stove, wait until it cools and drain the syrup to place the candied fruit on a baking sheet.
5. The product is dried in an oven at a low temperature, after which it is served or put away for storage.

Lemon jam

Before making jam, lemons are sliced, placed in an enamel bowl, and covered with water for 24 hours. After the jam has steeped, the citrus fruits are simmered in the saucepan, covered with a lid and checked periodically.

When the peel is soft and easily squeezed between your fingers, add sugar to the pan and simmer for another 20 minutes. Pour the finished jam into a sterilized, dry jar, wrap it up, and let it cool completely.

Lemon jam can be prepared for future use throughout the winter thanks to its long shelf life.

Five-Minute Jam

You can quickly make jam from lemons, pre-washed and chopped in a blender or meat grinder. Combine the citrus mass with sugar, stir, and let sit for 10-15 minutes to release the juices. Then bring the ingredients to a boil over high heat and simmer for five minutes. Pour the hot jam into jars, seal tightly, and refrigerate after cooling.

The most delicate delicacy with mint

This lemon and mint infusion boasts a number of beneficial properties and a unique flavor. The preparation process involves the following steps:

1. Wash and lightly dry the mint sprigs, then chop them along with the stems. Cut the lemon into half rings or cubes.
2. Place the ingredients in a pan of boiling water and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. After simmering, strain the mint infusion through a colander or sieve. To ensure the syrup is completely clear, it's recommended to repeat the straining process through a colander lined with cheesecloth.
4. The strained broth is poured back into the pan, sugar is added and stirred.
5. The mixture is cooked for 25-30 minutes, adding a thickener a couple of minutes before the end of cooking.

Assorted with ginger and honey

The combination of tart lemon and sweet ingredients creates a balanced flavor. To make 1 liter of the mixture, you will need:

• 0.5 l of honey;
• 60 g ginger root;
• 2 lemons.

The citrus fruits are sliced, peeled, and seeds removed. The ginger is peeled and divided into pieces. The ingredients are ground in a meat grinder and further blended with an immersion blender until smooth. After adding the honey, the mixture is thoroughly mixed.

The mixture can be consumed immediately after preparation or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. This aromatic mixture is recommended for adding to warm tea to combat colds and strengthen the immune system.

Drying lemons

Dried lemons can be prepared by heating them in the oven. Place the lemon slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place them in the oven, turning them occasionally to prevent burning. It's recommended to leave the oven door slightly ajar to allow excess moisture to evaporate quickly. Cooking time is 4-8 hours depending on the oven power.

Marmalade with a touch of sourness

Marmalade can be made from the juice of 2-3 lemons. The basic recipe calls for mixing sugar with water and heating over medium heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, continue cooking for 3 minutes. Then, pour the gelatin, previously diluted with water, into the syrup, stir thoroughly, and add the squeezed juice. Whip the mixture and pour it into greased molds, then refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Preserved with garlic

This recipe calls for first placing a lemon slice in the bottom of each sterilized jar. Then add the garlic, alternating with the citrus slices. Thyme and rosemary can be added to taste. Top the jars with a teaspoon of mustard seeds.

For the marinade, use a mixture of water, black pepper, bay leaf, salt, and sugar. Bring the marinade to a boil and add 100 ml of vinegar. Stir for 30 seconds, remove from the heat, and pour into jars.

Pickles for meat

Lemon pickles are made by adding salt, sugar, paprika, and various dried spices to sliced ​​lemons. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and left for 1 hour to release the juices. Then, add sliced ​​onion rings and finely chopped garlic. The mixture is stirred again and placed in glass jars. To completely seal the lemons in liquid, add olive oil and seal the jars airtight.

Spicy preserves with coriander

Lemon and coriander are preserved using the standard method: the fruit is sliced ​​and placed in sterilized containers. Coriander and additional spices, chosen according to personal taste, are added. The ingredients are then topped with freshly squeezed lemon juice and boiled water.

Thick apple jam with lemon

The combination of sweet apples and the pleasant tartness of lemon makes for a unique jam. Here's the recipe:

1. The apples are cut into small pieces, sprinkled with sugar and simmered in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. When the sugar has dissolved, bring the jam to a boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Fifteen to twenty minutes before the jam is ready, add lemon wedges to the apple mixture. After cooking, cool the jam and bring it back to a boil after eight to ten hours.

Exotic Treat

This exotic treat recipe calls for boiling lemons with kiwi and oranges. You can also add other fruits to taste. Blend all ingredients in a blender and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. Cook 2-3 times, allowing the mixture to cool each time. Store the mixture in sterilized glass containers.

Lemon and zucchini jam

To make jam, peel and seed the zucchini. Place the chopped zucchini flesh in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Once boiling, add the chopped lemon and continue cooking for 15 minutes. When the jam is ready, let it cool, then repeat the cooking process twice. Pour the finished product into sterilized containers and seal with airtight lids.

Duration and storage conditions

The shelf life of the preparations is 1-3 years, depending on the specific recipe. After preparation, containers with the prepared ingredients are placed in a refrigerator, cellar, cupboard, or other place with low humidity, a cool atmosphere, and protection from sunlight.