Keep the Citron From the Hand of the Buddha Like a Lemon
Tinned lemons are something special. They somehow manage to bring all five flavors to the table. Just two ingredients – lemon and salt – their main tastes are (obviously) sour and salty, but after standing at room temperature for a while, citrus fruits soften, developing a delicate sweetness with a slight bitterness and a touch of umami. … But lemons shouldn’t be all the pleasure; You can achieve very similar results with a citron from the hand of Buddha.
You may remember the Buddha’s hand from this vodka infusion, or perhaps you saw it in a small Instagram video . (Actually, I briefly mention this project in the video!) As I mentioned in both citrus snippets, this fruit is completely covered in rind and core, making it horrible to eat without a second thought, but tastes great. After a long stay in salted lemon juice, the heart softens, the bitterness disappears, and the citrus fruits become a highly aromatic, almost pickled version of itself. Since the Buddha’s hand is devoid of any juice of its own, you must supplement it with an external source. Plain lemon works, or you can use Meyer’s lemon, lime, or a combination of both. To make it you will need:
- 1 citron of Buddha’s hand, washed and cut into coins
- Enough kosher salt to completely cover the fruit (1/4 cup should be sufficient)
- Enough lemon juice to pour over the fruit
Place the sliced fruit in a bowl and stir in the salt. Transfer to a sterilized jar and squeeze out fresh lemon juice until the fruit is completely submerged in the water, tamping everything down if necessary. Close the jar and let it sit at room temperature for two to three weeks, depending on the temperature in the kitchen. (If it’s cold, this process will take longer.) After a couple of weeks, give one of the small bites a taste; Once they reach the salty-sour-funk perfection, you’re done! Like canned lemons before them, you can toss these golden flavored coins at just about anything. They make an excellent side dish with any rice dish, go well with meat, and the liquid can be used to add acid to cocktails. Put them on a cheese plate if you really want to live. You have many options.