Lemon Recipes

All about the lemon and its benefits

Facts about lemons:

• The lemon originates from Asia and the trees that produce it can yield a crop of up to 272kg in weight every year because they can produce fruit all year round.
• The high acidity content of the fruit means it's very effective when used in cleaning products.
• The most commonly found types of the fruit are the Eureka, Lisbon and Meyer varieties.

Lemons may have a strong, acidic flavour, but they are actually mostly water, with 88.98g per 100g. As a low-calorie fruit, 100g provides just 28 calories and 9g of carbohydrates. Since a small portion of these come from sugars and the majority from dietary fibre, the overall carbohydrate balance is considered quite healthy to add to your lunch and dinner menu.

Adding just a few drops of the juice will:

• Prevent other fruit from going brown, e.g. avocados, apples or bananas
• Stop rice from sticking when added to boiling water for cooking
• Tenderise meat by breaking down its tough fibres
• Make lettuce crisper if you soak the leaves in some water mixed with lemon juice, then allow them to dry
• Revamp many dishes, sprucing up creamy recipes and acting as an excellent salt substitute
• Ensure brown sugar stays soft if you add a slice of the fruit to your sugar jar
• Help to cook the best hard-boiled eggs if you rub a little juice on the shell before adding the eggs to boiling water