The Fried Lemon Zest Recipes

LEMON-PEPPER FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix bread crumbs, lemon-pepper seasoning, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and salt together in a shallow dish.
• Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels, dip in beaten eggs, and dredge through bread crumb mixture.
• Heat enough oil to thickly coat the bottom of a frying pan over medium heat. Fry chicken until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 8 to 10 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chicken breast should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

FRIED CALAMARI WITH FRIED LEMONS AND LEMON AIOLI

Steps:

• For calamari: Soak the calamari pieces in the buttermilk in a bowl for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
• For the lemon aioli: Add the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Stir to combine and adjust the seasoning as needed. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Preheat a deep-fryer or several inches of oil in a Dutch oven to 375 degrees F.
• For the flour seasoning: Add the flour, paprika, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Drain the calamari and put into the flour mixture, making sure each piece gets coated with the flour. Dump all the contents into a colander and shake off any excess flour. Line a dish with paper towels and set aside.
• In batches, add the lemon slices and calamari to the preheated oil and fry, mixing with a slotted spoon to prevent the calamari from clumping together, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Right before you take the calamari and lemon out of the fryer, toss in the parsley leaves carefully; this will cook very fast and can splatter, so stand back. Take all the contents out of the fryer to the lined dish and season with salt.
• Serve with the aioli, garnished with the zest and chopped parsley.

THE FRIED LEMON ZEST

Steps:

• Finely shred the lemon zest. In a small saucepan, barely cover the zest with cold water and bring to a simmer. Quickly drain the zest and dry on absorbent paper towels.
• Over a lively flame in a small saucepan, warm the olive oil and sauté the zest, tossing it about, letting it crisp a bit and take on a good, deep color.

LEMONY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large re-sealable plastic bag, mix together the buttermilk, olive oil, coriander, lemon zest and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Add the chicken pieces, seal the bag and massage to coat. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 1 day, turning the chicken pieces occasionally.
• Add enough oil to a large, heavy frying pan (preferably cast iron) to come 1 inch up the sides of the pan. Heat over medium until the oil reaches 325 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer.
• Place the flour in a medium bowl and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Working one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the marinade and dredge in the seasoned flour. Shake off the excess flour, then add the chicken to the hot oil. Fry, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the chicken to a cooling rack over a baking sheet and allow to drain.
• Arrange the fried chicken on a warm platter and serve with lemon wedges.

PAN-FRIED LEMON POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large sauce pan and cover with cold water. Add the garlic, rosemary sprigs and lemon half to the water and season well with salt. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain well and immediately cut the potatoes into halves. Place on a plate to allow the steam to escape. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to make the seasoning salt, mix together the lemon zest, chopped rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat until it shimmers when it swirls in the skillet. Add the potatoes cut-side down to the skillet. Do not overcrowd the skillet. This may be done in 2 batches. Cook until the bottom of the potatoes are a deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a metal spatula, flip the potatoes and cook on the second side for an additional 3 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and drain well. Sprinkle with the seasoning salt and serve warm.

STIR-FRIED SPINACH WITH GARLIC AND LEMON ZEST

Steps:

• Carefully rinse the spinach in several changes of water.
• Discard the tough stems and any damaged leaves, drain briefly in a colander, shaking off excess water.
• Over medium-high heat, in a deep sauté pan or wok, combine the olive oil, lemon zest and garlic.
• After about 30 seconds, the garlic should begin to sizzle; immediately stir in the damp spinach and using tongs or 2 wooden spoons, toss and stir quickly until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the spinach to a warmed serving dish and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of fresh pepper.
• Serve at once.