Dried Lime | Persian Limoo Amani

Dried limes are used to add a sour flavor to dishes, through a process known as souring. In Persian cuisine, they are used to flavor stews such as Ghorme sabzi, Gheimeh and soups.

In the following article you can read two different approaches to preparing dried limes for your dishes.

Dried Limes | Persian Limoo Amani

Not only in Iranian culture even in Arabic culture, dried lime has different usages. Across the Arab States of the Persian Gulf, they are used cooked with fish, whereas in Iraq, they are added to almost all dishes and used for stuffing, as well.

 If you want to cook Iranian dishes like Ghorme sabzi or Gheimeh you'll need this recipe. Come along with us to learn this flavor together.

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Course basic cooked ingredients for dishes

Ingredients

  

• 1 kilo lime
• 1 glass vinegar
• Salt as much as required

Instructions

 

• Wash the limes and put them on the plate, bowl or basket. Once they are dried, sprinkle them with some salt. Let them stay lie that for a day. After one day, wash them with cold water.
• Pour some water on a pot and add a glass vinegar to it. Place it on stove and turn on the heat. When the pot starts boiling add the limes to the pot. Let the limes boil in the pot for ten seconds. Then pick them up and wash them with cold water.
• Put the limes into the pot again but this time let them boil for a minute. Then pick them up again but this time don't wash them with water, just put them in a strainer.
• When the limes are cold, make small holes on them. You can use a toothpick to pierce the limes. Then put limes on a piece of dark or black fabric, black or dark fabric absorbs more sunlight and eventually the limes will be dried faster. Let them dry for ten days.
• After ten days, put the limes in the basket and put the basket in a shadow (indirect sunlight). Keep them in the basket for some days. They should be dried completely, until they are crunchy.

Dried Limes | Persian Limoo Amani

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Prep Time 10 days d

Total Time 10 days d

Course basic cooked ingredients for dishes

Cuisine persian

Ingredients

  

• 1 kilo limes

Instructions

 

• Wash the limes and let them bein water for a day. Water helps the bitter taste of lime to be gone.
• Slice the limes and divide their kernels. Then put limes on dark or black fabric, since black or dark fabric absorbs more sunlight an heat. Eventually the limes will be dried faster. Let them dry for ten days.

How to use dried lime?

Many Persian stews rely on black, dried limes for a touch of tartness which is one of the significant flavors of the rich and ancient cuisine of Iran, like the Khoresh Bademjan. Other usages are mentioned here:

• Many Persian Stews like Gheimeh
• sauces
• dishes served with rice (Strained Rice or Persian Kate)
• Tea

Tips on preparing and Using Limoo Amani

• A dryer machine or an oven can be used to dry the limes, but the natural way is more recommended.
• Limoo Amani sometimes can have a bitter taste because of the seeds inside it. That’s why many people add it to their dish at the final steps of preparing the stew. The reason why it taste bitter is because of the fermentation while drying.
• For the same reason, after the dish is cooked, many people remove the dried limes out of the stew.
• Here’s an absolute pro tip: You can break the dried limes, remove the seeds from the inside of it and then change the remaining parts into a powder (Sometimes known as Gard-e Limoo, translated as Lime Powder in English)
• This powder can be used in dishes instead of the dried limes.

6 Convincing health tips that will make you want to use limes more frequently.

1. Promotes A Healthy Digestion System

Black limes cure diarrhea and other gastric issues, and boost the immune system. A natural cleanser for the digestive system; it reliefs constipation and opens appetite

2. It Has Anti-Cancer Properties

It’s Anti-cancer properties prevent the DNA change, due to the compounds that are reported to stop cell division in numerous cancer cell lines. Work as a natural antibiotic too.

3. It has A Ton Of Minerals

Contains folic acid, B vitamin and amino acid, Along with traces of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, which aids in producing new cells formation.

4. It Packs Vitamin C

Dried limes fight inflammation, common cold and raise the efficiency in the immune system. It also protects the body from viral infections and stress.

5. A Great Source For Vitamin D

It Increases physical movement, prevents osteoporosis, strengthens the bones, muscles and teeth.

6. It Contains beneficial potassium components

They are excellent for heart muscles as it strengthens and regulates the pumping of blood. It also lowers blood pressure and reduces cholesterol.

Be careful!

Dried limes are like sponge. They absorb adverse elements floating in the stew, as the fats and fatty acids. This in itself increases the chance of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. So it is highly recommended not to eat the dried lime itself. But the flavor in the dish works better.

Better not to use the powdered dried limes. The minerals will be reduced that way.

Recognizing the high quality Limoo Amani in shopping!

Fresh Limoo Amani is mildly yellow and it extremely sour. It is usually sold powdered and it is good to know that Limoo Amani powder is one of the best-selling additives ever. As you might know, citric acid and vitamin C are two important agents in dried lime. The best quality of Limu Amani contains the maximum amount of these two in it. As it is not easy to find it out, the bigger and darker ones are better ones. Do not go for the brighter ones. The darker skin is important to consider.

Bonus Recipe

A recipe for Chai Tea with dried limes

herbal tea with dried limes

PersianGood Team

When you come home from work and you feel really exhausted, you need to drink a lovely drink. What that drink could be? Herbal tea can be really soothing. What kind of herbal tea can calm you down and eases your tension? An herbal tea with dried lime is the key to your exhaustion! You can easily ease the tiresome with a sip of this drink! If you want to know how to make this drink, be with us!

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  

• 3 dried limes
• 2 cups water
• Hone as much as required

Instructions

 

• crack the dried lime open in a pan
• Add water and bring to boil
• Simmer for 20 minutes
• Remove from heat and let it warm
• Drain and filter the drink in a cup
• Add the honey to sweeten the drink.