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Locals Grow 2.6kg Monster Lemon In West Australia

Locals Grow 2.6kg Monster Lemon In West Australia

Perth chef Melissa Palinkas was the lucky recipient of the ponderosa lemon which was grown by East Fremantle locals

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

A pair of gardeners have grown a monster ponderosa lemon weighing in at 2.6kg and measuring the same size as a forearm.

The couple, from East Fremantle, Western Australia, gave the citrus fruit away to a local chef which makes sense - how much could two people possibly do with a lemon that big?

Melissa Palinkas, executive chef and owner of Ethos Deli and Dining Room, was the lucky recipient of the lemon and has used it in a salad and also says it could be peeled for fresh limoncello. Now she's talking.

Taking to Instagram to update her followers on what exactly she did with the fruit, Ms Palinkas wrote: "So I googled giant lemon, it turns out it's a Ponderosa lemon originating from Amalfi. Much like a Cedro lemon I have used before.

"No juice but some amazing lemon citrusy pearls, much like a finger lime opponent bursts of citrus. So the pith is sweet not bitter.

"Today I scooped and segmented the pearls and shaved the skin and pith, for a salad I made with green olives lots of chives and dill, zucchini and our burnt lemon dressing with lemon oil."

In all it's glory next to the bog-standard lemon.
Instagram/melisspalinkas

She went on to add: "So there you have it, mystery solved about the big lemon. It's not bitter, it's sour and sweet, shaved it's beautiful and can be eaten in a salad. If you wanted to peel the skin and make lemoncello you can but the pith is where it's at."

Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia, Ms Palinkas said: "It grows seasonally with a winter yield.

"It is sweet, so I shaved it and made a ponderosa lemon salad with zucchini and green olives with a burnt lemon dressing. The middle part is much like Australia's native finger lime, pearls that burst with juice inside which I sprinkled over the top."

Commenting on Ms Palinkas' post, one person wrote admiringly: "Its a vibe, I've heard of them floating around Italian circles, old gents just peeling off the pith and eating as is over a couple of bevvies."

Another added: "Wow! It sure does look amazing. I'm glad it tastes great as well! A multi-talented lemon!"

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@melisspalinkas

Topics: Food, Community