This lemon and spice mix will quickly become a kitchen go-to you can’t do without. It adds a pop of vibrant flavor to virtually any savory dish, including chicken, fish, beef and pork, along with vegan veggie or grain dishes. Our version adds a blend of herbs, but if you want to go basic, you can pare it back to lemons, salt, and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 200 °F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a sharp knife to remove the lemon zest, taking care to leave the white pith behind.
Place the strips of zest you’ve cut on the parchment paper in a single layer.
Let them dry out in the oven for about 2 to 3 hours. Check them frequently after about the first 2 hours – they should be completely dried but not browned.
Process the dried lemon zest and peppercorns in a high-powered blender, specialty spice grinder, or by hand in mortar and pestle until all the peppercorns have been broken, and the texture is still a little coarse.
Add the salt, garlic, basil and rosemary, and pulse a few times until they’ve reached the desired textured.
Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Note: This is a project that takes some time – allow yourself about a half day to complete the process.