Lemon And Peppercorn Confit Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a medium stockpot of water to a boil. Place a 1-quart canning jar in the boiling water for 5 minutes to sterilize. Place jar on a wire rack, upside down, to dry.
• Pour a layer of salt into the bottom of the jar. Quarter a lemon, starting at the end, but leaving the uncut end intact. Open the lemon over a small bowl, and pour some salt inside. Place the lemon in the bottom of the jar. Continue process with the remaining lemons. Be sure to use all of the salt, including any salt that remains in the bowl. Pack the lemons into the jar, and covering each layer of lemons with salt. Seal the jar, and refrigerate.
• The lemons can be used after 1 month, but they are best after 3 months and will keep for up to one year.
• To use the confit, cut the lemon quarters apart. Cut away all the flesh from the rind; discard the flesh. Dice or julienne, and add to salads, stews, or grain dishes.

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.

Steps:

• Slice lemons 1/8-inch thick. Layer half the lemons slices and shallots in a pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of salt. Repeat layering process with remaining ingredients. Cover the pan with plastic wrap making sure the plastic touches the top layer of lemons. Leave the pan overnight or up to 48 hours. Rinse the lemon slices and use as you would preserved lemons. Keep refrigerated up to a week.

Steps:

• On a Japanese mandoline, slice the garlic as finely as possible; it should be translucent.
• Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a large, heavy Dutch oven to 250 degrees F. Add the sliced garlic and cook until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the head and tail pieces intact. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large saute pan over high heat until oil is almost smoking. Season 6 prawns with salt and pepper and add to hot oil. Cook 1 minute on each side and then transfer to a paper towel to drain. Repeat until all prawns are cooked, adding more oil as needed.
• Arrange prawns on a plate and drizzle with the Lemon Confit, using some of the oil. Sprinkle with garlic chips and chopped parsley.
• Prepare the Lemon Confit a couple days in advance. Slice the lemons lengthwise and place in a stainless steel pot. Add all remaining ingredients, except olive oil, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer; too much heat will cause the lemon to fall apart. Simmer for 15 minutes and then pour into sanitized mason jars. Seal and let cool in refrigerator.
• When ready to use, scrape out the pith of the lemons with a knife and cut up the skin into small cubes. Immerse in olive oil a couple hours prior to using.

Steps:

• Heat 3/4 cup oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté 3 minutes. Add all bell peppers, garlic, thyme, and sugar; sauté 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until vegetables are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes longer. Drain confit and cool; discard cooking oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Puree 1/2 cup bell pepper mixture, lemon juice, and 5 tablespoons olive oil in blender until smooth. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. (Bell pepper confit and sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Coat in flour; shake off excess. Sauté chicken in skillet until golden, about 1 minute per side. Transfer skillet to oven and bake chicken until cooked through, turning once, about 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rewarm bell pepper confit over medium heat. Stir sauce over low heat just until heated through. Spoon bell pepper confit onto 4 plates.
• Slice chicken diagonally and place atop bell peppers. Drizzle sauce around chicken and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If necessary, soak and carefully rinse the leek rounds in a large bowl of water to get rid of any excess grit. Drain, then cautiously pat dry, keeping the rounds intact.
• Add the leeks, garlic, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper to a 12-by-8-inch/30-by-20-centimeter baking dish. Mix gently to combine, then pour the oil on top. Arrange the leeks cut-side up, then cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and gently turn the leeks using two forks. Cover again with foil and return to the oven to bake until completely softened, about 35 minutes more. Turn the oven temperature up to 200 degrees Celsius/400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• As the leeks bake, fill a medium saucepan about two-thirds of the way with water and bring to a boil over high. Add the lentils and cook until just tender but not at all mushy, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• When ready, remove the confit leeks from the oven and transfer a heaping 1/2 cup/100 grams of the cooked leeks plus 5 of the garlic cloves to a bowl for the leek cream. Add the cooked lentils to the remaining leeks in the baking dish along with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper; mix gently to combine. Cover again with the foil and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and leave to settle for 10 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs.
• While the lentils bake with the leeks, make the cream: Add reserved leeks and garlic to a food processor along with the heavy cream, mustard, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/8 teaspoon of salt; blitz until smooth.
• When ready, stir the remaining 4 tablespoons lemon juice and the chopped herbs into the lentil and leek mixture. Transfer to a rimmed platter and serve with the leek cream in a bowl alongside.