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    Home » Pairings

    Apr 6, 2022 · Modified: Sep 16, 2022 by Lindsey Jenkins · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    What Goes Well With Lemon?

    What goes well with lemon? Learn the best ingredient pairings, meal ideas, popular flavor combinations, and other helpful tips.

    Cooking is all about balancing the 5 basic tastes.

    Like salt, lemon is a flavor enhancer, which is why you'll often see that a savory recipe calls for a squeeze of lemon (or sometimes lime) to be added at the end. The acid enhances the overall flavor of the dish without making it taste like lemon.

    However, if you were to add the zest of a lemon, it would add that true lemon flavor and aroma to whatever you're cooking without the sourness.

    Lemon Varieties

    Although there are many lemon varieties, these three are the most common:

    Eureka - This lemon variety has a short neck, minimal seeds, dimply skin, and is commonly found at supermarkets.

    Lisbon - These lemons have a pointed end (no neck), no seeds, smooth skin, and are also commonly found at supermarkets.

    Meyer - This variety is unlike the other two. It's a cross between a lemon and an orange. It has a more floral taste, is less acidic, and is slightly orange in color.

    Helpful Tips

    When to Buy

    Lemons are in season year-round. Peep the seasonal produce guide to see what else is in season right now.

    Storing Lemons

    When stored at room temperature, lemons last about a week on the counter. After this time, move them to the refrigerator where they'll last a few weeks.

    If juicing several at a time, pull them from the fridge a little while before using. They're easier to juice at room temperature.

    What Goes Well With Lemon?

    Vegetables

    Artichokes, garlic, ginger, rhubarb, and shallots.

    Fruit

    Apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, figs, gooseberries, grapefruit, grapes, guava, kiwi fruit, lime, mango, nectarines, orange, papaya, passion fruit, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, quince, raspberries, and tangerine.

    Spices

    Anise, black pepper, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, oregano, and poppy seeds.

    Herbs

    Basil, bay leaf, chervil, chives, lemongrass, lemon verbena, mint, parsley (flat-leaf), rosemary, sage, and thyme.

    Nuts & Seeds

    Almonds, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.

    Non-dairy/dairy

    Butter, buttermilk, caramel, cheese (goat, ricotta), cream, cream cheese, milk, sour cream, and yogurt.

    Proteins

    Beef, chicken, crab, duck, fish, lamb, oysters, pork/pork chops, poultry, shellfish, and veal.

    Pantry Items

    Capers, chocolate: dark & white, coconut, coffee, dates, dijon mustard, gin, honey, maple syrup, oats, olive oil, orange liquors, pasta, prunes, raisins, rice, rum, salt: kosher, sesame oil, stock: chicken, sugar: brown, white, wine: red, sweet, white, vanilla, violets, and vodka.

    Popular Lemon Pairings

    • berries + whipped cream
    • blackberries + honey + ricotta

    What to Make With Lemon

    Lemon is a common ingredient in Greek, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Moroccan cuisines. It's often used in salad dressings such as fennel salad with lemon-mint dressing or simple shallot vinaigrette, dairy-free cheeses like this almond ricotta, and sauces such as creamy lemon miso and pesto.

    Add it to savory dishes such as caramelized braised leeks, lemon zucchini risotto, and lemon chicken, or make something sweet like lavender lemonade or carrot cake with a zesty citrus glaze.

    More Ingredient Pairings

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    Hi, I'm Lindsey. My goal is to teach you how to become a better cook, rely less on recipes, and be more adaptable in the kitchen depending on what's in season, in your pantry, or to fit your dietary needs. All recipes are dairy-free but come with a "make it your way" substitution section to get you started.

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