My husband, Scott announced he was making limoncello. Okkaaaaay. Even though we’ve been married 22 years, he still surprises me on occasion.
We were first introduced to limoncello when we traveled to one of my favorite places~~Ravello, Italy. Limoncello is lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy using Femminello St. Teresa lemons.
Limoncello is typically served chilled after dinner as a digestif. It can also be used in cocktails since it imparts a strong lemon flavor.
Scott used Martha Stewart’s limoncello recipe. There are four simple ingredients~~lemons, 160-proof vodka or grain alcohol, sugar and boiling water.
He peeled strips of zest from the lemons using a vegetable peeler, trying to minimize the bitter white part of the lemon.
He put the zest and vodka in an airtight container and let it sit at room temperature for 3 days (at least 2 days or up to 1 week).
Next he made simple syrup and added it to the vodka mixture, then refrigerated it in an airtight container for 1 day.
He then poured the mixture through a large sieve into a decanter; and discarded the zest.
This was a father/son effort!
Pour 2 ounces limoncello into a cordial glass.
We are so happy to have our son home from college for the Thanksgiving week!
Limoncello can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months. I am already conjuring up ways to use this very lemony liqueur.
Enjoy!
Limoncello
Ingredients
- 11 lemons
- 1 liter 160-proof vodka or grain alcohol
- 3 cups sugar
- 3 cups boiling hot water
Instructions
- Peel strips of zest from lemons using a vegetable peeler; reserve lemons for another use. Put zest and vodka in an airtight container; let stand at room temperature at least 2 days (or up to 1 week).
- Stir together sugar and the hot water until sugar is dissolved; let cool. Stir sugar mixture into vodka mixture; refrigerate in an airtight container 1 day.
- Before serving, pour through a large sieve into a decanter or serving vessel; discard zest. Pour 2 ounces limoncello into each glass.
Gabie - Tea End Blog says
Nice! I love lemon so I will perhaps get around to trying this recipe! Enjoy having your son with y’all and all the fun family time!
Thanks for sharing!
M McDougall says
Do you have any good recipes for using limoncello? We have a bottle in the freezer, and I keep forgetting to use it to drink.
Mary Crozier says
I was thinking about pouring it on a lemon cake….I will experiment and see what I come up with! Or maybe using it in a margarita???