Homemade limoncello with only 3 ingredients is an easy, fragrant recipe perfect to prepare with organic untreated lemons. With just a few steps you can obtain a liquor with an intense and natural flavor, ideal to be served cold at the end of a meal. If you want to add an extra touch, you can include a bit of ginger during maceration: it will make the limoncello even more aromatic, but it is entirely optional. The result will still be delicious and surprisingly simple to make!
It’s true that there are high-quality limoncellos available on the market, but there’s great satisfaction in making it with your own hands, choosing the ingredients, and following the preparation step by step.
Before moving on to the recipe, let me remind you of other ideas like
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 30 Days
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 2 bottles
- Cooking methods: No cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 1,482.20 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 211.06 (g) of which sugars 209.69 (g)
- Proteins 0.33 (g)
- Fat 0.08 (g) of which saturated 0.05 (g)of which unsaturated 0.03 (g)
- Fibers 0.76 (g)
- Sodium 21.54 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 850 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 5 lemons
- 1 tsp ginger powder (Optional)
- 500 g pure alcohol (food grade)
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 1/3 cups water
Tools
- 1 Container
- 1 Funnel
- 2 Glass Bottles
Preparation
To prepare the limoncello, start by thoroughly washing the lemons and peeling them with a potato peeler, making sure not to take the white part, which would make the liquor bitter. Collect all the peels in a glass container with an airtight seal and pour the alcohol over them. Let it infuse for 25-30 days in a cool place, away from light, shaking the container every now and then. If you like, you can add a teaspoon of ginger to give a slightly pungent aromatic note: it’s an optional addition, but it makes the limoncello even more fragrant.
Once the resting days have passed, retrieve the lemon peels and proceed with filtering. Use a funnel, preferably with a filter, or a standard funnel on which you place a sheet of paper towel to catch any residues. Filter all the alcohol, now well aromatic.
At this point, heat the water just enough to completely dissolve the sugar. Once cooled, combine the syrup obtained with the filtered alcohol. Mix well and proceed with bottling.
NOTES
Preparing homemade limoncello is an act rich in tradition and memories. With just a few genuine ingredients and a bit of patience, you can obtain a fragrant and refreshing liquor, perfect to serve at the end of a meal or to gift in small bottles. The secret lies in the quality of the lemons: choose untreated ones with thick, fragrant peel. Stored in the freezer, it will always be ready to impress your guests!
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FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use green lemons or any type of lemon?
For a fragrant limoncello with intense color, it’s best to use untreated lemons with thick, yellow peel. Green or unripe lemons are too acidic and not very aromatic.
How long does homemade limoncello last?
If well filtered and stored in a sealed bottle, even for 6-12 months. It improves over time, so you can also prepare it in advance to gift for Christmas or for a special occasion.
