Citrus

Lemon

Also called citrus lemon

What it is

The other everyday acid.

Origin

Asia; Mediterranean cultivation made it iconic.

Flavour

Bright, slightly bitter pith.

How to use it

Juice, zest, wedges. Zest is oil; juice is acid.

Storage

Room temp or fridge.

Can you recognise Lemon?

Ingredient challenge

Questions about Lemon

From this ingredient's notes in the catalogue — not a chatbot.

What is Lemon?

The other everyday acid.

How do I use Lemon?

Juice, zest, wedges. Zest is oil; juice is acid.

How do I store Lemon?

Room temp or fridge.

What does it taste like?

Bright, slightly bitter pith.

What can replace Lemon?

Lime (high for dressings, finishing). Same acidity, different perfume. Taste before you repeat the squeeze.

Nutrition

Per 100g · estimate · USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables. Values are typical, not lab tests of your shopping bag.

Calories 29 kcal

Protein 1.1 g

Carbs 9 g

Fat 0.3 g

Recipes using it

Paella

A wide-pan rice from Valencia — saffron, sofrito, and a toasted bottom. Not a dumping ground for every seafood in the shop.

1 hr 10 minA bit of workNo chilli

Crêpes

Thin French pancakes — butter in the batter, a hot pan, and whatever filling the house believes in.

1 hrEasyNo chilli

Madeleines

Small lemon-butter cakes with a hump — a tin helps, a rest in the fridge helps more.

1 hr 27 minEasyNo chilli

Zaalouk

زعلوك

Cooked eggplant and tomato salad — smoky if you char the eggplant, a dip if you mash it.

45 minEasy🌶️

Pancit canton

Birthday noodles — wheat-soy stir-fried with vegetables and a little meat. Long noodles, long life.

30 minEasyNo chilli

Hummus

حمص

Chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic — a dip, not a yoghurt smoothie, and not a Turkish restaurant garnish.

8 hr 15 minEasyNo chilli

Falafel

فلافل

Fried ground chickpeas or fava — herbs, garlic, a crisp shell. Not a mashed leftover patty.

12 hr 40 minMedium🌶️

Tabbouleh

تبولة

A parsley salad with a little bulgur — not a wheat salad with a parsley garnish.

50 minEasyNo chilli

Fattoush

فتوش

A bread salad — fried pita, vegetables, sumac, and a sour dressing that should stain your fingers.

28 minEasyNo chilli

Baba ghanoush

بابا غنوج

Smoky eggplant, tahini and lemon — the mezze that should taste of fire, not of a steamed vegetable.

50 minEasyNo chilli

Shish tawook

شيش طاووق

Yoghurt-garlic chicken skewers — pale, tangy, grilled, and unfinished without garlic sauce and pita.

2 hr 32 minEasyNo chilli

Batata harra

بطاطا حارة

Potatoes fried and tossed with garlic, chilli and coriander — hot in both senses if you want them to be.

40 minEasy🌶️🌶️

Avgolemono

αυγολέμονο

Chicken soup thickened with egg and lemon — silky, not scrambled, if you temper it.

1 hr 10 minMediumNo chilli

Lahmacun

lahmacun

A thin meat-topped flatbread — not a pizza, not a pide, eaten with parsley, onion and a squeeze of lemon.

1 hr 37 minMedium🌶️

Baklava

baklava

Phyllo, nuts, butter and a sharp syrup — Gaziantep's pride, not a soggy hotel diamond.

3 hr 25 minA bit of workNo chilli

Shrimp and grits

A Lowcountry bowl — stone-ground grits, a buttery shrimp sauce, and no, instant grits are not the same.

50 minMedium🌶️

Pavlova

A marshmallow-centred meringue, cream and fruit — Australia and New Zealand still arguing, both correct enough to eat.

2 hr 35 minMediumNo chilli

Ful medames

فول مدمس

Slow fava beans, lemon, cumin, oil — Egyptian breakfast that is also lunch, and not a hummus.

9 hr 40 minEasy🌶️

Molokhia

ملوخية

A green soup of jute leaves, garlic and coriander — slimy on purpose, chicken broth underneath.

40 minEasyNo chilli

Pastéis de nata

pastéis de nata

Custard tarts in shatteringly thin pastry, blistered on top — Lisbon's bakery, not a bland egg tart.

1 hr 45 minA bit of workNo chilli

Stuffed Grape Leaves

Stuffed Grape Leaves from Armenia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

40 minA bit of workNo chilli

Algerian Carrots

Algerian Carrots from Algeria. Times were inferred from the source steps.

49 minMediumNo chilli

Dziriat (Algerian Almond Tarts)

Dziriat

Dziriat (Algerian Almond Tarts) from Algeria. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 25 minA bit of workNo chilli

Beef Asado

Beef Asado from Philippines. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 37 minA bit of workNo chilli

Barramundi with Moroccan spices

Barramundi with Moroccan spices from Australia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hrMedium🌶️

Squid, chickpea & chorizo salad

Squid, chickpea & chorizo salad from Australia. Times are typical for this kind of dish.

35 minMedium🌶️

Blueberry & lemon friands

Blueberry & lemon friands from Australia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

40 minMediumNo chilli

Spiced smoky barbecued chicken

Spiced smoky barbecued chicken from Australia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

50 minMedium🌶️

Avocado dip with new potatoes

Avocado dip with new potatoes from Australia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 16 minMedium🌶️

BeaverTails

BeaverTails from Canada. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 46 minMediumNo chilli

Aubergine & hummus grills

Aubergine & hummus grills from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

28 minMediumNo chilli

Baba Ghanoush

Baba Ghanoush from Syria. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 10 minMedium🌶️

Baklava with spiced nuts, ricotta & chocolate

Baklava with spiced nuts, ricotta & chocolate from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 5 minA bit of workNo chilli

Blackberry Fool

Blackberry Fool from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 20 minA bit of workNo chilli

Budino Di Ricotta

Mash the ricotta and beat well with the egg yolks, stir in the flour, sugar, cinnamon, grated lemon rind and the rum and mix well. You can do this in a food processor. Beat the egg whites until stiff, fold in and pour in

50 minMediumNo chilli

Cacik

Cacik from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

12 hr 15 minEasyNo chilli

Cajun spiced fish tacos

Cajun spiced fish tacos from Mexico. Times were inferred from the source steps.

25 minMedium🌶️

Chicken Karaage

Chicken Karaage from Japan. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 15 minMediumNo chilli

Chicken Quinoa Greek Salad

Chicken Quinoa Greek Salad from Greece. Times were inferred from the source steps.

14 minMedium🌶️

Chicken Shawarma with homemade garlic herb yoghurt sauce

Chicken Shawarma with homemade garlic herb yoghurt sauce from Saudi Arabia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

12 hr 58 minA bit of work🌶️

Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana from Spain. Times were inferred from the source steps.

10 hr 2 minMediumNo chilli

Eccles Cakes

Eccles Cakes from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 45 minA bit of workNo chilli

Falafel Pita Sandwich with Tahini Sauce

Falafel Pita Sandwich with Tahini Sauce from Syria. Times were inferred from the source steps.

25 minA bit of work🌶️

Portuguese custard tarts

Portuguese custard tarts from Portugal. Times were inferred from the source steps.

55 minMediumNo chilli

Fish pie

01.Put the potatoes in a large pan of cold salted water and bring to the boil. Lower the heat, cover, then simmer gently for 15 minutes until tender. Drain, then return to the pan over a low heat for 30 seconds to drive

1 hr 8 minA bit of workNo chilli

Fried calamari

Fried calamari from Spain. Times were inferred from the source steps.

13 minMediumNo chilli

Grilled aubergines with spicy chickpeas & walnut sauce

Grilled aubergines with spicy chickpeas & walnut sauce from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

30 minA bit of work🌶️

Griddled aubergines with sesame dressing

Griddled aubergines with sesame dressing from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

13 minMediumNo chilli

Shawarma

Shawarma from Egypt. Times were inferred from the source steps.

48 hr 25 minA bit of work🌶️

Imam bayildi with BBQ lamb & tzatziki

Imam bayildi with BBQ lamb & tzatziki from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 14 minA bit of workNo chilli

Lamb and Lemon Souvlaki

Pound the garlic with sea salt in a pestle and mortar (or use a small food processor), until the garlic forms a paste. Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, zest, dill and garlic. Mix in the lamb and combine well. Cover a

10 hr 43 minMediumNo chilli

Lamb Pilaf (Plov)

Lamb Pilaf

Lamb Pilaf (Plov) from Russia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

2 hr 35 minMediumNo chilli

Lamb tomato and sweet spices

Use pickled vine leaves here, preserved in brine. Small delicate leaves are better than the large bristly ones but, if only large leaves are to hand, then trim them to roughly 12 by 12 cms so that you don't get too many

2 hr 25 minA bit of workNo chilli

Lemongrass beef stew with noodles

Lemongrass beef stew with noodles from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 45 minA bit of work🌶️

Madeira Cake

Madeira Cake from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 5 minMediumNo chilli

Noodle bowl salad

Noodle bowl salad from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.

14 minA bit of workNo chilli

Treacle Tart

First make the short crust pastry: measure the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs (alternatively, this can be done in a food processor). Add ab

1 hr 45 minA bit of workNo chilli

Panang chicken curry (kaeng panang gai)

Panang chicken curry

Panang chicken curry (kaeng panang gai) from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

20 minA bit of work🌶️

Portuguese barbecued pork (Febras assadas)

barbecued pork

Portuguese barbecued pork (Febras assadas) from Portugal. Times were inferred from the source steps.

58 minMediumNo chilli

Raspberry mousse

Raspberry mousse from Poland. Times were inferred from the source steps.

8 hr 36 minEasyNo chilli

Roast fennel and aubergine paella

1 Put the fennel, aubergine, pepper and courgette in a roasting tray. Add a glug of olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss around to coat the veggies in the oil. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, turning a coupl

1 hr 6 minA bit of workNo chilli

Salmon Prawn Risotto

Salmon Prawn Risotto from Italy. Times are typical for this kind of dish.

35 minMediumNo chilli

Shawarma chuck roast wrap

Shawarma chuck roast wrap from Saudi Arabia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

10 hr 30 minMedium🌶️

Seafood fideuà

Boil the kettle. Empty the mussels into a colander and run under cold water. Throw away any with broken shells. Pick through the shells, tapping each one on the side of the sink – they should be closed or should slowly c

1 hr 19 minA bit of workNo chilli

Slow-roast lamb with cinnamon, fennel & citrus

Slow-roast lamb with cinnamon, fennel & citrus from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

14 hrMediumNo chilli

Slow-roasted ham with lemon, garlic & sage

Slow-roasted ham with lemon, garlic & sage from Poland. Times were inferred from the source steps.

6 hrMediumNo chilli

Spanish Chicken

Spanish Chicken from Spain. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 15 minMediumNo chilli

Spicy North African Potato Salad

Spicy North African Potato Salad from Morocco. Times were inferred from the source steps.

40 minMedium🌶️

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

73 hr 20 minA bit of workNo chilli

Tahini Lentils

Tahini Lentils from Morocco. Times were inferred from the source steps.

17 minMediumNo chilli

Tom kha gai

Tom kha gai from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

33 minA bit of work🌶️

Tom yum soup with prawns

Tom yum soup with prawns from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

35 minA bit of work🌶️

Tuna and Egg Briks

Tuna and Egg Briks from Tunisia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

56 minMediumNo chilli

Tunisian Lamb Soup

Tunisian Lamb Soup from Tunisia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

50 minA bit of work🌶️

Turkish lahmacun

Turkish lahmacun from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 35 minA bit of work🌶️

Turkish-style lamb

Turkish-style lamb from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

15 minMediumNo chilli

Vietnamese caramel trout

Vietnamese caramel trout from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.

15 minMedium🌶️

Vietnamese pork salad

Vietnamese pork salad from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.

22 minA bit of work🌶️

Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes

Baked salmon with fennel & tomatoes from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

45 minMediumNo chilli

Bistek

Bistek from Philippines. Times were inferred from the source steps.

9 hr 31 minMediumNo chilli

Chicken wings with cumin, lemon & garlic

Chicken wings with cumin, lemon & garlic from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

10 hr 30 minEasyNo chilli

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

1. Blend all the mousse ingredients together in your food processor until smooth. Add the cacao powder first and, as you blend, have all the ingredients to hand in order to adjust the ratios slightly as the size of avoca

45 minMediumNo chilli

Christmas cake

Christmas cake from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

42 minA bit of workNo chilli

Grilled eggplant with coconut milk

Grilled eggplant with coconut milk from Philippines. Times are typical for this kind of dish.

35 minEasyNo chilli

Polish doughnuts (Pączki)

Pączki

Polish doughnuts (Pączki) from Poland. Times were inferred from the source steps.

3 hr 52 minA bit of workNo chilli

Pomegranate salad

Pomegranate salad from Poland. Times are typical for this kind of dish.

10 minMedium🌶️

Roasted chicken with creamy walnut sauce

Roasted chicken with creamy walnut sauce from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

53 minMediumNo chilli

Spanish seafood rice

Spanish seafood rice from Spain. Times were inferred from the source steps.

42 minMediumNo chilli

Aubergine couscous salad

Aubergine couscous salad from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

35 minMediumNo chilli

Honey Yogurt Cheesecake

Honey Yogurt Cheesecake from Greece. Times were inferred from the source steps.

24 hr 10 minMediumNo chilli

Keleya Zaara

Keleya Zaara from Tunisia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

40 minMediumNo chilli

Moroccan Carrot Soup

Moroccan Carrot Soup from Morocco. Times were inferred from the source steps.

37 minMediumNo chilli

Tom yum (hot & sour) soup with prawns

Tom yum (hot & sour) soup with prawns from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

12 minMedium🌶️

Osso Buco alla Milanese

Osso Buco alla Milanese from Italy. Times were inferred from the source steps.

4 hr 31 minA bit of workNo chilli

Spotted Dick

Spotted Dick from United Kingdom. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 50 minMediumNo chilli

Vietnamese lamb shanks with sweet potatoes

Vietnamese lamb shanks with sweet potatoes from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 11 minA bit of work🌶️

Beef Mechado

Beef Mechado from Philippines. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 23 minMediumNo chilli

Beetroot latkes

Beetroot latkes from Ukraine. Times were inferred from the source steps.

25 minMediumNo chilli

Arroz al horno (baked rice)

Arroz al horno

Arroz al horno (baked rice) from Spain. Times were inferred from the source steps.

47 minA bit of work🌶️

Chilli ginger lamb chops

Chilli ginger lamb chops from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

8 hr 13 minMedium🌶️

Cucumber & fennel salad

Cucumber & fennel salad from Poland. Times were inferred from the source steps.

20 minMediumNo chilli

Knafeh

Knafeh from Saudi Arabia. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hrMediumNo chilli

Grilled Portuguese sardines

Grilled Portuguese sardines from Portugal. Times were inferred from the source steps.

15 minMedium🌶️

Smoked aubergine purée

Smoked aubergine purée from Turkey. Times were inferred from the source steps.

35 minEasyNo chilli

Tangy cabbage slaw

Tangy cabbage slaw from Ukraine. Times were inferred from the source steps.

24 hr 10 minMediumNo chilli

Thai pumpkin soup

Thai pumpkin soup from Thailand. Times were inferred from the source steps.

56 minMedium🌶️

New York cheesecake

Position an oven shelf in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. Line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin with parchment paper. For the crust, melt the butter in a medium pan. St

11 hr 32 minA bit of workNo chilli

Alfajores

Alfajores from Argentina. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 25 minMediumNo chilli

Nordic smørrebrød with asparagus and horseradish cream

Nordic smørrebrød with asparagus and horseradish cream from Norway. Times were inferred from the source steps.

33 minA bit of workNo chilli

Skillet Apple Pork Chops with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Zucchini

Skillet Apple Pork Chops with Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Zucchini from United States. Times were inferred from the source steps.

1 hr 2 minMediumNo chilli

Smoked Haddock Kedgeree

Smoked Haddock Kedgeree from India. Times were inferred from the source steps.

48 minMediumNo chilli

Salmon Eggs Eggs Benedict

First make the Hollandaise sauce. Put the lemon juice and vinegar in a small bowl, add the egg yolks and whisk with a balloon whisk until light and frothy. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk until mix

14 minMediumNo chilli