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    Home » Main Dishes » Salads/Dressings

    Lemon-Infused Olive Oil Recipe

    Published: Oct 7, 2023 · Modified: Aug 12, 2024 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Lemon-Infused Olive Oil makes food taste fabulous! Don't miss this easy recipe that brings a "wow" factor to salads, vegetables, seafood and chicken. Make some for yourself plus some to give as gifts!

    bottle of lemon olive oil on a plate with a lemon

    I have to give props to Papa C for this Lemon-Infused Olive Oil. You're going to want to pour this stuff on everything!

    I admit, I was skeptical when I first saw my hubby cooking olive oil and lemon peels on the stove.

    "Can't we just pour some olive oil and squeeze some lemon juice onto our food?"

    But after one taste of a meal drizzled with this infused olive oil, I was hooked. It makes food taste amazing!

    So, let's get to the details. And don't miss my hubby's Lemonade Moonshine!

    Recipe ingredients

    salt, olive oil, lemons

    Olive Oil: You can use regular or extra-virgin olive oil. You'll need one cup.

    Lemon: Get two nice lemons for this recipe. You'll be using the peels from one and the juice from 1 ½ to 2 lemons.

    Salt: A pinch of salt makes the lemon oil flavor pop! Try not to skip it.

    How to make lemon-infused olive oil

    See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.

    • Scrub the lemons under running water with a brush. Dry them well.
    • Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peels from one lemon. Try not to include the white pith, because it'll be bitter.
    • Squeeze the lemons until you have half a cup of lemon juice.
    olive oil, lemon juice, salt, lemon peels
    • Add the oil, lemon peel, juice and salt to a small saucepan. Whisk to combine.
    • Heat on high just until bubbles start to form, then put the heat on low.
    • Steep over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    lemon peels and olive oil in a pot
    • Move the pan off the heat and let the lemon cooking oil sit for an hour.
    • Strain out the solids using a fine-mesh strainer (affiliate link).
    • Transfer the lemon olive oil to a glass bottle or jar and refrigerate.
    bottle of lemon olive oil on a plate with a lemon

    Recipe tips

    • If the lemon juice and olive oil separate, shake them in the bottle to emulsify them.
    • Add some orange peel to make citrus olive oil.

    Using lemon-infused olive oil

    • Drizzle it on fish or seafood.
    • Use it as a salad dressing or to make lemon vinaigrette.
    • Add it to cooked Italian broccoli with gremolata.
    • Use it to make Roasted Chicken Thighs and Vegetables.
    • Marinate chicken in it for up to two hours before grilling.
    • Dip fresh Italian bread in it.
    • Drizzle it over pasta dishes such as Cacio e Pepe.

    This makes a great gift! Package it in a nice glass bottle (affiliate link). It's perfect for Mother's Day or to bring to a dinner party!

    Frequently asked questions

    How long will lemon-infused olive oil last?

    This lemon olive oil will last for up to three weeks and should be stored in the refrigerator, due to the lemon juice.

    The lemon and oil will separate, so shake the bottle before using. If the oil has solidified, run the bottle or container under very warm water, then shake to combine.

    After using some of the oil, refrigerate the rest of it within an hour so you don't decrease its refrigerator shelf life.

    How do you clean lemons?

    Wash your hands first with soap and water before cleaning produce like lemons. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub the lemons under running water.

    You should not use soap to wash lemons, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), because some of it can absorb into the pores of the lemon and make you sick. Dry the lemons with a paper towel.

    More recipes like this

    • Simple Bread Dipping Oil
    • Basil Mayo with Garlic
    • Orange Dressing for Spinach Salad
    • Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
    • Italian-Style Salad
    • Charred Romaine Salad

    Enjoy!

    If you try this lemon-flavored olive oil, please leave a comment and a rating!

    Turned out fabulous. That recipe was awesome!

    - Christine
    bottle of lemon olive oil on a plate with a lemon

    Lemon-Infused Olive Oil

    This lemon olive oil makes food taste fabulous! Don't miss this easy recipe that brings a "wow" factor to salads, vegetables, seafood and chicken.
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Dressing, How-To-Guide
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 14 minutes minutes
    1 hour hour
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 18kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • peels from one lemon
    • ½ cup lemon juice (from 1 ½ to 2 lemons)
    • 1 cup olive oil (regular or extra-virgin)
    • 1 pinch salt
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Scrub two lemons with a vegetable brush under running water. Pat them dry.
    • Use a vegetable peeler to peel the yellow part of the skin off of one lemon. (Do not use any of the white part, because it will be bitter.) Place the lemon peels in a small saucepan.
    • Squeeze 1 ½ or two lemons until you have ½ cup of lemon juice. Add the juice to the saucepan, then add the oil.
    • Add a pinch of salt to the pan and stir. Heat the pan over high heat, just until the oil starts to bubble at the edges. (Do not boil.) Then put the heat on low and let the lemon oil steep for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Move the pan off the heat and let the lemon-infused oil cool for an hour at room temperature.
    • Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the olive oil into a mason jar or into a funnel placed in a glass bottle. Store the oil in a sealed glass bottle or jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
    • The oil and lemon juice will separate, so shake before using. If the oil has solidified, run the bottle or container under very warm water, then shake before using.

    Video

    Notes

    Here are some ways to use this oil:
    • Drizzle it on fish or seafood.
    • Use it as a salad dressing or to make lemon vinaigrette.
    • Add it to cooked broccoli.
    • Use it to make Roasted Chicken and Vegetables.
    • Marinate chicken in it for up to two hours before grilling.
    • Dip Homemade Italian Bread in it.
    • Drizzle it over pasta dishes such as Cacio e Pepe.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 18kcal | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 10mg | Vitamin C: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

    (Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C, from my hubby, Papa C! Originally published on April 29, 2019, and updated now with additional information.)

    Don't miss my Pasta & Sauces E-Cookbook! Please SUBSCRIBE and follow me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM!

    More Salad Recipes and Dressings

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      Lemon Vinaigrette without Mustard
    • plate of salad with corn, olives, lime, cheese, avocado, tomatoes, onions, beans, eggs.
      Southwest Salad with Catalina Dressing
    • plate of bread and tomato salad garnished with basil leaves
      Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)
    • bowl of dipping oil with fresh herbs and pepper flakes
      Easy Bread Dipping Oil
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    Comments

    1. Julie wainwright says

      April 10, 2025 at 12:48 pm

      I’ve had 3 sets of measuring cups and all 3sets were different sizes so what. Sizes are used by yourself

      Reply
    2. Andrea Saxion says

      January 12, 2025 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      This is my favorite lemon oil recipe. I’ve used it several times and each time it’s as good as the time before.

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 15, 2025 at 6:43 am

        Hi Andrea - I love hearing that! Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply
    3. Andrea S. says

      July 12, 2024 at 2:32 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe. Easy and final product is delicious!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        July 13, 2024 at 7:56 am

        Hi Andrea - I'm so happy you loved this! Thanks for leaving a review.

        Reply
    4. Brittany says

      September 02, 2023 at 8:18 pm

      How long does this keep when stored?

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        September 03, 2023 at 7:32 am

        Hi Brittany - It could stay a few weeks in the refrigerator.

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    4.91 from 11 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I've been sharing family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen for a decade! I hope you'll visit often!

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