When a friend gives you a big bag of lemons from their tree, there just aren’t enough lemon recipes. Cytrynówka Polish Lemon Liqueur has always been a favorite, so we’ve made several batches, one for me, one for Ed without sugar (it’s burns a lot more), one for my mom’s birthday, one for the lemon grower.
I still have a lot of lemons to use. There may be lemon curd, lemon brine chicken, or lots of lemonade in our future.
As usual, my inspiration comes from our book the Great Book of Tinctures which is in Polish. If you’d like your own copy, it’s usually available on Amazon via my affiliate link. (That means if you buy it via this link, amazon pays me a few cents.)
There are a lot of variations to make this lemon liqueur. Some recipes will use lemon juice. Some will use a higher proof liquor, but I can say that this is delicous and quick and easy to assemble, and ready to drink in just a few days. It makes for great sipping after dinner or can be used in cocktails.
Na zdrowie!
Lois
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Homemade Lemon Liqueur in the Polish tradition
Ingredients
4 lemons
1 liter vodka
sugar, 1/4 – 3/4 cup
Instructions
Wash the lemons and submerge in boiling water (I wish I could explain the benefits of the boiling water, but I’m just following directions)
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the zest from the lemons, add to a large jar or divide among multiple jars
Add vodka and sugar (to taste), and top with a lid
Shake or swirl the mixture occasionally over the next couple of days, until the sugar dissolves
Remove the lemon zest after 24 to 48 hours
Refrigerate and serve chilled
Laurel
This is a lot like the Italian limoncello, which I’ve made, except they let the zest soak in the booze for maybe 4 – 6 weeks until a peel will crack like a potato chip when you bend it. I keep some around the house, minus the sugar, for adding to anything I want to make lemon-flavored. A little bit in lemonade is great. It’s hard to remove the yellow part only and not get any white but it’s worth it. This is supposed to a great digestive aid!
David
I agree with Laurel – very much like limoncello. I’ve never tried it without sugar – very interesting idea! I wonder if the lemons are boiled to remove bitterness?
polishhousewife
Without sugar, the liquid is still yellow colored but not at all hazy. It seems so much stronger.
Victoria
use honey instead of sugar! tastes so much better
Judi
The lemons aren’t boiled, just placed in boiling water and removed. I believe it has to do with maximizing the lemon oils on the peel.
Nell
Sounds like the hot water helps the oils in the lemon peel get released into the alcohol qiucker.
polishhousewife
Very good thought!
Piotr
I’m college student, and sometimes make cytrynówka with friends, but after washing in boiling water we just cut lemons and put them it in the pot with spirytus(95-98% alcohol) and sugar. Next day we just squeeze lemons, pour it through strainer and add water.
Its 1kg lemons(~4lemons),
0,5L spirytus,
1/2 cup of sugar(sometimes more- add to taste) and
0,5L water.
Its little cloudy, but when frozen taste great and thanks to lemon juice usually hangover-free 😉
I don’t know if i read your recipe correctly, but you just put lemon zest not juice? Sounds interesting, must try it sometime.
★★★★★
polishhousewife
Yes, just the zest. I’ll have to give your recipe a try too, Piotr if I can find spirytus. Thanks for sharing!
Marta
I think everyone is craving some cytrynowka
polishhousewife
Na zdrowie
Steve Pace
Putting the lemons In boiling water also helps remove the wax covering you sometimes get on commercial lemons.