Like most fruits, lemons grow quite easily in Zambia and are readily available in supermarkets. Growing up we had a lemon tree, avocado tree and plenty other fruit trees that grew in our back garden. Zambia being a tropical country means nearly every fruit can grow there. With all that goodness readily available in our country, there isn’t anything to keep us from being healthier as a nation; having just 5 portions of fruit or veg a day can make all the difference.
I was recently told about the numerous health benefits of lemons, more specifically lemon peels. When eating lemons we tend to eat the inside of the fruit and throw away the peel (skin). But did you know how much goodness you are losing out on when you throw the peel away? Lemon peel has 5 – 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice – that’s how much goodness you are wasting. Lemons are also an excellent source of fibre, potassium, magnesium, and folate. Lemon peels improve bone health because they contain high amounts of calcium and vitamin C and can even aid in preventing osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lemons have been used to prevent and treat cancer. When they are consumed, they have been shown to prevent various types of cancers, including skin cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Studies have found that the consumption of lemon peels in tea was beneficial in preventing the development of cancer cells. Though lemons are citrus fruits, they actually have an alkalizing effect in the body. By making your body alkaline they help to prevent cancer; since cancer thrives in an acidic body. Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties as well; and lemon juice has been shown to destroy the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases.
So take advantage of the whole lemon and don’t just juice it and throw the rest away. There are different ways that you can prepare your lemon peels.
- Place your lemons in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then take them out and grate them. You can sprinkle the grated lemon peel on your meals or in your drinks.
- Grate the outside of your lemon (without freezing). Sprinkle the lemon peel pieces on your meals or in your drinks.
- Or you could just bite right into one.
Grated lemon peels make a great addition to salads and teas, cakes or chicken! They add amazing flavour to any meal. So without further ado here is a delicious Lemon Butter Chicken recipe to start you off .
Ingredients
- 8 chicken thighs with the bone-in
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 chicken stock cube
- 300 ml of water to dissolve the stock cube and make a Chicken broth
- 125 ml of heavy cream
- 1 lemon, juiced and grated
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
- 250g of spinach, chopped (optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius . Season the chicken thighs with paprika, salt and pepper, to taste.
Over a medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot. Add the chicken, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pot. In a separate bowl or jug make your chicken broth and set aside.
Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the pot; add garlic, and cook for about 1 – 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon juice and thyme. Bring to the boil; reduce the heat and stir in the spinach (if using any). Simmer until the spinach is cooked and the sauce has slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot, mix well; then transfer it to an oven proof dish and roast in the oven until the chicken is completely cooked through.
Once cooked, remove from the oven; grate the lemon peel and sprinkle it over your dish.
Serving
Serve immediately, with rice, potatoes, pasta or nshima; and enjoy with a beverage of your choice.
If you are feeling daring, why not make fresh lemonade and serve it with your Lemon Butter Chicken. Enjoy!
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work on www.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
They look like buns with too much cooking oil. Yuk!
When did you last have chicken my brother..!?
Hot water with lemon ( squeezed or with sliced lemon), is the best way to wake your body first thing in the morning. Body absorbs that vitamin C before any other unsuitable food( like that ‘way too fatty’ chicken with skin AND Olive/Veggy oil)!
I’d do thus without the skin on the chicken, just make sure to brown the chicken first. It’ll still be delicious.
Kanta, when you ‘borrow’ recipe ideas on blogs, you must Reference the source of the recipe so you give Credit to where you sourced the idea from. I got that recipe and picture on my iPad months ago from a blog.
Sound delicious until I came to the heavy cream. I am sure it is to thicken the broth. Tip: try using a couple of okra. Makes a whole lot of a difference and is less calories too….