What better way to conquer steep drink prices than to make your own? Wine and beer, meh, too complicated and who can afford expensive equipment when one hardly can afford to drink. We’re deeply sinking into a major recession! When life gives you lemons, make….. Limoncello!
Properly pronounced “Lee mon CHELL oh” this sweet and sinfully potent lemon liqueur was born in the beautiful Amalfi coast of Italy, and is traditionally made with delicious Sorrento lemons and served after dinner. It’s minimal ingredients are this: strong alcohol, lemon zest, sugar, and water.
This video features Miami Chef John DiRocco in his home sharing his simple family recipe for limoncello. He is truly quite the amusing character!
Recipe courtesy of Chef John DiRocco and the Miami Dish.
12-16 lemons, preferably organic and unwaxed
1 bottle Everclear
1 bottle of water (use the Everclear bottle)
1-1 ½ cups sugar
It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to do the initial preparation (mainly peeling the lemons and shaving out the bitter white pith.) You can also do the prep work gradually, doing two lemons at a time and tossing them in the alcohol, until all of the lemons are done. The peels should ferment a minimum of three weeks.
The more of the white lemon pith that you leave, the more bitter the limoncello will taste.
The type of sugar affects the color of the limoncello. For John’s “limoncello naturale,” use a darker raw cane sugar.
If you can’t get a hold of Everclear, you can use ½ Grey Goose vodka and ½ Absolut. For a poor man’s version, strain cheaper vodka though your Brita pitcher 3 or 4 times.
Store your limoncello in the freezer. It should be completely liquid. If it’s slushy, you used too much water.
We also found this adorable Italian video from Villa Massa honoring the Sorrento lemon and limoncello!