Luscious Limes: in season now!
At The Culinary Farm, our Tahitian limes are at their best right now.
Locally grown fresh limes are wonderful to enjoy and are a great price when in season. Make the most of their abundance this season and preserve some for using throughout the year ahead!
At The Culinary Farm, we grow limes without the use of sprays or pesticides, and we don’t use fruit wax to extend shelf life. This makes our limes ideal for using in cooking where the recipe calls for zest or peel.
We pick and pack limes to fill orders and only supply to our local market. So, the time between harvest and reaching the customer is one to two days. Our limes are not cold stored, nor do they travel long distances to get to their destination, which is great for the environment and for anyone who eats them!
Enjoy new season limes now
Nutritionally, there is more to limes than their vitamin C content as they are also rich in folate, potassium, fibre and citrus polyphenols. These components work together in the body to support the health of the heart, brain, gut and immune system.
Lime zest or peel is particularly nutrient dense and delicious when added to homemade cakes, biscuits and pikelets. Add lime zest and juice to dressings and marinades to provide a punch of citrus flavour. Use a squeeze of lime to liven up drinks, soups or fruit salad.
Preserve limes for eating later
Make the most of limes in season by freezing the citrus whole, sliced or juiced. Dry lime slices in an oven or dehydrator and keep a store in the pantry for using in drinks or as garnishes. Cook up a batch of lime marmalade and enjoy it spread on toast or use it as a glaze for barbequed meats or baked fish.
One of the simplest ways to preserve limes is to freeze juice in ice cube trays so you can easily access it when you need it. This will give you a supply of lime juice once the lime season is over, which will come in handy when you need a squeeze of lime for a recipe.
If you like a slice of lime in your drink, then when they are in abundance freeze some slices for later. Simply lay slices of lime on a tray that is lined with baking paper and pop into the freezer. Once frozen, pack the lime slices into a container for easy storage in the freezer. This way you can grab a slice or two of lime as you need it without the slices sticking together.
To pickle limes, all you need is fresh limes and salt. There are many preserved lime recipes to follow which include using chilli, bay leaf, peppercorns, and other herbs and spices. But the basic recipe requires layering salt and lime halves in a sterilised jar until the limes are completely covered in salty juice. The sealed jar of limes is then kept in a cool dark place for 6 weeks before it’s ready to use. Once opened, the jar of pickled limes is best stored in the fridge. Use this delicious condiment to add flavour to fish, poultry, salads and curries.
Come and visit us at the farmers markets this citrus season and get locally grown, spray-free, unwaxed limes for your culinary creations.
For all dates and locations of where you can find us, please check out the market updates on our website www.theculinaryfarm.com.au
