{"id":363,"date":"2017-01-17T09:57:18","date_gmt":"2017-01-17T14:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ablekitchen.com\/blog\/?p=363"},"modified":"2022-01-19T20:14:47","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T01:14:47","slug":"endless-uses-for-the-zesty-lemons-in-summer-recipes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ablekitchen.com\/blog\/endless-uses-for-the-zesty-lemons-in-summer-recipes\/","title":{"rendered":"Endless Uses for the Zesty Lemons in Summer Recipes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lemons:<\/p>\n

Lemons are the Perfect Addition to a Summer Menu<\/strong><\/p>\n

As temperatures rise and the novelty of the summer heat starts to wear off, the search for lighter foods becomes all consuming. Cold soups and salads are summer staples but, for me, if a dish isn\u2019t lemony, it isn\u2019t summery. From lemonade to lemon meringue pie, from lemon-based salad dressing to lemon-flavored Italian ices, the tart, unique, refreshing taste of lemons is synonymous with summer, and a cooking prerequisite for the hot summer months. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Delicious AND Healthy Lemon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lemons are known to have numerous health benefits<\/a> (they are an important source of Vitamin C), as well as being delicious and invigorating. Due to their high potassium levels, lemons help control blood pressure and they also help prevent the formation of kidney stones. They are rich in antioxidants, and have numerous anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. These qualities make lemons a wonderful and beneficial fruit all year round; but it is their zing and freshness that make them particularly suited for the summer.<\/p>\n

A Little Lemon Goes a Long Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a myriad of dishes, one squeeze of lemon<\/a> makes all the difference. Think about what a few drops can do to salmon or how lemon juice can upgrade a dish of hummus. Lemon flavoring \u2013 from either the juice or the zest \u2013 is in a league with salt and pepper in terms of elevating recipes to a higher level. (Zest is derived by scraping, grating, or cutting from the lemon\u2019s outer, colorful skin \u2013 and being careful not to dig down to the white part.) Lemon juice can be the difference between average and amazing – imagine a tall glass of iced tea without lemon juice and you\u2019ll know what I\u2019m talking about. Lemons can be used across the spectrum of the meal \u2013 from appetizers and soups, to fish and poultry entrees, and, of course, desserts. Squeeze lemon over a salad along with a bit of olive oil and your fresh veggies are transformed; brush grilled lamb kabobs with lemon juice and the flavor will pop in your mouth.<\/p>\n

Lemon and Chicken: A Natural Pairing<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the summer drags on, the versatile lemon adds a nice, fresh taste to chicken and meat. Here, the lemon adds pizzazz but doesn\u2019t overwhelm the dish, so that the great chicken flavor still shines. The following recipe calls for only a few ingredients, keeping it quick and easy, another important factor in light summer cooking.<\/p>\n

Lemony Pan- Grilled Chicken Breast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n