Grilled Lemons

Lemons are a great versatile ingredient used in many dishes from savory to sweet. If you are making a dish that calls for lemon, this makes a great side addition. Presentation alone make it very worth while.

Ingredients

• Lemons
• Vegetable oil or extra virgin olive oil*
• Optional: Fine sea salt

Directions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Rinse the lemons clean. If you have any plans to use or otherwise eat the peel, you may even want to go so far as to scrub them with soap before rinsing them. Pat them dry. To release extra juice, roll them on a hard surface.
3. Cut the lemons in half crosswise.
4. Pop out and discard any visible seeds. Use the tip of a paring knife to urge any deeper-set seeds to the surface. This is a kind service to your fellow diners since it minimizes the chance that they'll bite into a bitter seed while enjoying their lovely grilled lemons.
5. Use a pastry brush, silicone grilling brush, or a paper towel to brush the cut sides with a bit of oil. You can sprinkle the cut sides with fine sea salt, too, if you want to add a more intense savory effect to the grilled lemons.
6. Set the lemons cut-side-down on the hot grill or in the frying pan. Cook until the lemons are heated through and charred on the cut side, about 3 minutes. Ideally, you'll cook them without moving them so they char nicely, but adjust them if the heat seems uneven so they char evenly.