Rosy campari cocktail

A bit of sweet and salty goes into this rosy-hued aperitif. The sweetish bitterness of the Campari mixed with the fragrant saltiness of preserved lemon brine gets your taste buds ready for a delicious meal.

To Make Preserved Lemons:

Scrub lemons under running water with a stiff vegetable brush to remove any waxy coating. Trim off and discard stem ends. Quarter lemons lengthwise.

Coat wedges with salt, then pack into a 1-L jar with a lid. Press lemons very firmly into the jar to get the juices flowing. Add remaining salt and, if needed, more lemon juice to cover. Cover jar with a piece of plastic wrap and secure lid. Refrigerate.

Turn and gently shake jar once a day. After 1 week, lemons will be soft and ready to use. They'll continue to develop flavour. Keep refrigerated up to 6 months.

To use, remove and discard pith and pulp using a small sharp knife. Rinse peel well to remove excess salt. Slice or dice peel. Lemons become saltier the longer they sit. Adjust the amount of peel used in recipes below accordingly.

makes 1L Per tbsp 3 calories, 1 g carbs, 1 g fibre, 515 mg sodium.

Prep Tip:

Even the brine has a use - it adds a fragrant saltiness to many dishes.