What is Preserved lemons?

Preserved lemons are used extensively in North African cooking. They're whole lemons that have been preserved by being packed in tall jars with salt, flavoured with herbs and spices, covered with lemon juice or brine and left to cure for a few weeks.

Before using them, wash them well to remove the excess salt. They can be used whole in stews or tagines, or chopped finely and added to couscous dishes or salads. Most supermarkets sell them. Keep the jar topped up with lemon juice and they should last several weeks. Ordinarily only the skin (not the flesh) is used in tagines.