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30 of the Most Creative Lemon Recipes

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I think my favorite thing about winter is that with is comes citrus season. Today I’m excited to share some my favorite creative lemon recipes with you!  From pizza and custard, to soups and salads, there’s definitely a lemon recipe for everyone!

Four peeled Meyer lemons with the skins next to them, on a cutting board.When life gives you lemons . . . .

What?  Make lemonade?  Why only lemonade?  I love lemonade, but you could certainly also make something else, right?

How about: “When life gives you lemons, make Lemon-Basil Strawberry Caprese.”  Or “When life gives you lemons, make Fried Lemon Caesar Salad?”

And why are lemons used in the English language with a negative connotation?  Sure they’re sour and acidic, but is that a reason to call something — like a car for example that doesn’t run well — a lemon?

Let me tell you, if you add some sweetness and other flavors to lemon, and you can create extraordinary masterpieces in the kitchen.

Please try to use Meyer lemons whenever you can.

What makes Meyer lemons so special?

  • The skin of a Meyer lemon is quite thin and soft. You know how sometimes you cut into citrus, and there’s a thick white area between the skin and the fruit? That’s called the pith, and Meyer lemons only have a thin layer of this also. Both of these things mean that the size of a Meyer lemon is probably about the size of the fruit inside the skin.
  • Meyer lemons are extremely juicy, sweeter and less acidic than other lemons.
  • The color of the skin and fruit is often an orange-yellow.  Sometimes they even look like oranges.

I have more than a couple dozen super creative lemon recipes to share with you today.

Click on the images or titles for the oh-so-creative lemon recipes . . .

Top view of Meyer Lemon Basil Pizza on a white platter.1. Lemon-Basil Pizza

Lemon-Basil Salad Dressing in a jar surrounded by basil leaves and lemon slices.2. Meyer Lemon Basil Salad Dressing

Fried Lemons in a cast iron skillet.3. Fried Meyer Lemons

Smoky Lemon-Paprika Quinoa in a red floral howl on a turquoise and white cloth.4. Smoky Lemon Paprika Quinoa

One Lemon Coconut Muffin in a pretty floral paper cup on a purple placemat.5. Lemon-Coconut Muffins

Whipped Lemon-Vanilla Butter in a blue-rimmed bowl with lemon slices in the background.6. Whipped Meyer Lemon Vanilla Butter

Kotosoupa chicken lemon soup in a bright red bowl surrounded by lemon wedges on a wooden background.7. Kotosoupa – Greek Chicken Lemon SoupCandied Meyer Lemon Peels, finely chopped in a white bowl on a purple cloth with two lemons in the background.8. Candied Meyer Lemon Peel

Tangy Lemon Dill White Asparagus in a ceramic dish with bright blue dots along the edge.9. Tangy Lemon Dill White Asparagus

Meyer Lemon Red Chard Risotto With Pancetta in a white bowl with blue flowers along the edges.10. Meyer Lemon Red Chard Risotto With Pancetta

Lemon Basil Strawberry Caprese lined up on a white platter.11. Lemon-Basil Strawberry Capreses

Lemon Cucumber Tomato Salad on a white plate with fresh dill.12. Lemon Cucumber Tomato Salad

Marinated Lemon Garlic Roasted Croutons in a round terracotta bowl with red-skinned garlic cloves and a lemon wedge.13. Marinated Lemon-Garlic Croutons

Lemon Black Quinoa-Plum & Avocado Salad in a square white dish, surrounded with lemon wedges and avocado half with pit.14. Meyer Lemon-Black Quinoa and Plum Salad

Almond-Meyer Lemon Loaf Lemon Loaf Cake with Olive Oil on an antique blue and cream platter.15. Almond-Lemon Loaf Cake with Olive OilLemon Sherry Braised Leeks in a cast iron skillet on a wooden table.16. Lemon Sherry Braised Leeks

Lemon-Pepper Chocolate Truffles in two rows on a narrow white platter, on a purple cloth with one yellow daisy.17. Lemon Pepper Chocolate Truffles

1Mom's Meyer Lemonade in a jar on a wooden table with 3 lemons next to it, on a wooden table.18. My Mom’s Meyer Lemonade

Lemon Roasted Baby Artichoke & Avocado Salad in a glass, heart-shaped dish on a purple cloth.19. Lemon Roasted Baby Artichoke & Avocado Salad

One scoop of Lemon-Lavender Frozen Custard in a yellow bowl on a yellow and white checked cloth.20. Lemon-Lavender Frozen Custard 

Lemon Caper Pesto in a tiny white bowl on a red and white striped cloth.21. Lemon Caper Pesto

One ear of corn with lemon juice dripping onto it from above.22. Lemon-Pepper Grilled Corn 

purple bowl iwth puréed kohlrabi soup, with a drizzle of oil23. Coconut Kohlrabi Lemon Soup

Gluten-Free Pink Lemonade-Coconut Bars cut into squares with a lemon slice on each one, with powdered sugar being sifted on top.24. Pink Lemonade Bars

Skillet Braised Chicken Recipe with Caramelized Lemon-Shallot Sauce in cast iron pan with lemon slices.25. Skillet Braised Chicken Recipe with Caramelized Lemon-Shallot Sauce

one square slice of Vanilla-Meyer Lemon Hot Milk Cake on a white plate with blue flowers, with icing dripping down the sides.26. Vanilla Meyer Lemon Hot Milk Cake

Meyer Lemon-Thyme Spaghetti in a blue-rimmed, ceramic bowl with fresh thyme sprigs and lemon wedges.27. Meyer Lemon Thyme Spaghetti

Smoky Paprika Lemon Herb Chicken Under a Brick with fresh herbs and lemon slices in a black pan.28. Smoky Paprika Lemon Chicken Under a Brick

a cream colored bowl of Smoky Lemon Vegetable Quinoa29. Smoky Lemon Vegetable Quinoa

Smoky Lemon Chipotle Guacamole in a round terracotta bowl surrounded by chips, aocado slice with pit, and lemons.30. Lemon Chipotle Guacamole

I hope you enjoy all of these creative lemon recipes!

Make them! Eat them! Share them!

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Comments

  1. OMG! Do you ever sleep? Or do you sleep-cook (instead of sleep-walk)? Absolutely fantastic collection of lemon recipes, Valentina and #14 is not the only fab picture, they all are! Great job!

    Reply

    • Christina, THANK YOU! No sleep-cooking for me. Wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. (Just sleep-posting. ;-)) xo

      Reply

  3. Can’t choose just one. I want to try them ALL, Valentina!
    I’m nuts about lemons. Throwing zest away feels like
    sacrilege. I always save it for cakes, etc.
    Have a bit of the sniffles. That Greek soup might be
    the right medicine for me now. xo

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Cathy! My lemon tree only produces about 8 lemons a year, so it’s always empty. 😉

      Reply

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