Limes are an extremely suitable garnish for cocktails, fruit salads, trays of hors d'oeuvres, puddings and desserts. They are extremely versatile, and you can easily slice or sculpt them into simple shapes that you can use as a vibrant addition to an array of dishes. You don't need to use any sophisticated tools to do this. All you need are a few standard kitchen utensils.
Instructions
1. Slice the lime into wedges. Wedges are the classic garnish for drinks and when held horizontally by the peel, look like small "smiles." Place the lime horizontally on a cutting board. Cut the ends of the lime, and stand the lime upright. Slice the lime in half lengthwise. Place the lime down flat on the pulp, and cut into 1/2 to 1/4 pieces, cutting directly into the peel.
2. Slice the lime into wheels. This is the simplest slice, and you can use it to adorn cocktails or garnish the perimeter of a salad bowl or the pan of a fruit tart. Place the lime horizontally on a cutting board. Slice across the lime making 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch slices. You can choose to keep these circular slices intact as wheels or cut each one down the middle and make "half moons."
3. Press a vegetable peeler directly into the peel of the lime, and run it down the body of the lime, slicing a spiral out of the peel. A lime spiral makes a charming garnish placed directly in a drink or on the tops of salads, tarts or fruitcakes. If you slice a thick spiral of peel and make a tight spiral down the body of the lime, you can then shape that lime peel into a rose, by rolling the peel up again tightly.
4. Rub a vegetable peeler or a cheese grater directly against the peel of the lime to create tiny flecks called zest. You can use these tiny flecks to decorate and flavor pies, puddings, salads or drinks.
Tags: peel lime, Place lime, Slice lime, body lime, cutting board, directly into, directly into peel