Sicilian Lemon Olive Oil Sauce/Salmoriglio

Salmoriglio is a Sicilian sauce that a lot of people have never heard of. The name is derived from salamoia, which means salty (brine). Made with lemon juice, water and olive oil, this quick sauce is perfect to baste grilled fish with or to use at the table as a condiment for grilled meats. Old recipes say that the ingredients should be whisked together in a double boiler to insure a creamy emulsion but I find that a good whisk and some fast arm action are just as good.

Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients

  • 2 Juice oflarge lemons
  • 1/2 cup Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons minced parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Fine sea salt to taste
  • Grinding black pepper
  • Ingredients

Directions

  1. Combine all the ingredients except the salt and pepper in a medium size bowl and whisk until the ingredients are well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep refrigerated and use to baste grilled fish, meat or even poultry. Or pass it at the table as a condiment.

This recipe was featured on Season 22 - Episode 2204.

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Comments

Marion

Hot water is mentioned in the written recipe but not used in the video. Is it a part of the recipe?

Beth Bilous

I made this sauce last night to serve over grilled wild wahoo fish. It was phenomenal. I will serve the rest over chicken. I left the water out, and this was very simple to make. It’s so fresh tasting.

miri

Sounds delicious and I will try it but in Rome I had a condiment that tasted like salt, lemon zest and olive oil that was served on concia di zucca and knocked my socks off. It was not smooth but granular and no parsley or garlic like gremolata…could it just be a regional variation?

Ross

Never add water.
Olive oil, lemon juice and parsley for fish.
For chicken and beef add dried oregano.
Salt and pepper add directly to the meat.

Patricia A Sicular

Mary Ann is an American and now World Wide Treasure … I share her recipes with friends across the country and around the world .
Happy 4th Mary Ann – With very best regards , Patty in NYC

Anna A Flores

Does Mary Ann ever answers questions, asked in emails, about a specific recipe or place in Italy she has visited?

Like the newsletter & recipes Mary Ann shares.

Grazie e ciao. Anna

Carol

Thank you so much for posting this recipe. Growing up we called this Salmore – I remember grandma and my aunts using pestle for garlic, adding lemons and olive oil and chopped parsley. It was used to marinade chicken baking in oven. The rest was put in pot, adding water and cooked – bunch of parsley was used as “mopina” and served at table. Always had this after pasta on Holidays – fed our big extended family.

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