One And Only Lemon (2008-01-19)
We've had this lemon tree for 5, or perhaps 6 years. This is the one and only lemon it ever produces. To say it is a lemon isn't all that true, but we have no idea what it is. It is too round and big to be a lemon, yet too small to be a grapefruit. It IS the size and shape of a yuzu, but lack the aroma and sweetness.
Anyway, I thought I'd use it in a dish to fully utilize the
fruit. Lemon and thyme chicken is what I made, a recipe I adapted
from Gordon Ramsay's. The sauce has a rather strong bitter taste
from the pith of the lemon. If you don't like that, which I think
99.99% of the population doesn't, just use the juice and zest of one
lemon instead of the whole thing. Other than the bitterness, the
dish is pretty tasty.
Lemon And Thyme Chicken (for 2)
Three chicken thighs and legs cut into large pieces, one lemon
sliced or zest and juice of one lemon, 1/2tsp dried thyme, a fat clove
of garlic roughly chopped, 250ml chicken stock, 3tbsp soy sauce, 4tbsp
honey
1. Salt and pepper chicken, dust with 1tbsp flour, brown in some
olive oil on high heat, remove from pan.
2. Fry the garlic and lemon slices, or fry the garlic and add the zest
and juice. Return chicken to the pan, add rest of the ingredients.
3. Cover pan, cook on medium low heat for 10 minutes, uncover and cook
till liquid is reduced to a saucy consistency, about 10 minutes or so.
P.S. Always taste the sauce as it cooks, you may want to adjust the
soy sauce and honey amount depending on the tartness of your lemon, the
saltiness of the soy sauce or stock etc.
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