By the way, did I ever mention about this lemon tree in our apartment community? Well, it took me only one entire year to figure that out. And here is the fun part, it’s right next to our flat and I see it everyday from my balcony. Yet, I never knew until last year when Mom visited us and pointed it out. Right now, the tree is filled with tiny lemons and I am quite sure that as soon as they grow big enough, most of it would be plucked even before I realize.
The good thing is I get to use as many lemon leaves as I want and they smell just stunning. Cooking with lemon leaves is not a good idea, as they add bitterness to the dish. But throwing a few tender leaves in stew or soup right after cooking and allowing it to infuse for a while makes it perfectly aromatic. This Coconut and Lemon Fish Stew makes a perfect summer meal. I didn’t get too bold with the spices, kept it very light with a few black mustard seeds and turmeric powder for that sunny color to fit the season. If you don’t have lemon leaves, just add a good quantity of lemon zest and squeeze in lemon juice at the end for that perfectly refreshing smack.
