Slices of lemon confit on a white oval platter.

4.50 / 2 votes

Lemon Confit

This lemon confit is nothing more than thin slices of lemon that are slowly cooked in a sugar and vanilla syrup, yet its ability to elevate all manner of desserts and beverages is anything but understated.

Prep Time15

Cook Time9 45

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Servings: servings

Calories: 70

Ingredients

▢ 2 lemons, preferably organic (or substitute Meyer lemon, orange, tangelo, or mandarin)
▢ Pinch of salt
▢ 1 1/4 cups cold water, plus more for the soak
▢ 7 ounces superfine sugar (or just blitz granulated sugar in a food processor until finely ground but not powdery)
▢ 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (optional)

US - Metric

Instructions

Using a mandoline or a very sharp serrated knife, slice the citrus super thinly—about 1/32 inch (1 mm) thick. Ideally the slices should be an intact cross section of even thinness. Place the slices in a container, pour in enough water to cover, and add a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
In a flameproof casserole dish or oven-safe saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1 1/4 cups water, the sugar, and vanilla bean, if using. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to a simmer, and let it bubble away for 5 minutes. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit just inside the pan.
Drain the water from the lemons. Place the lemon slices, 1 at a time, in the sugar syrup and press the parchment paper on top. Cover with the lid and then transfer to the oven until the white pith between the rind and flesh starts to turn translucent, 40 to 60 minutes.
☞ TESTER TIP: If some of your citrus slices start to turn golden and caramelize, they can be removed, kept separately, and chopped up and used in place of citrus peel.
Cool the lemon slices in the syrup and use immediately or cover and stash them in the fridge for up to 1 week.
☞ TESTER TIP: Don’t toss that slightly sweetened citrus syrup! Any extra syrup can be salvaged and stirred into cocktails, iced tea or seltzer, buttercream, yogurt, or whipped cream.

Notes

Spice It Up

Get a little extra spice mingling in there. Try star anise and tangelo, which are exquisite together. Or orange with a cinnamon stick or a few cardamom pods.

Nutrition