Preserved Lemons w/Sugar

[livzweig96]

I never add sugar to my own foods, and am trying to figure out a way to eat out without being too demanding. I've searched this a couple of times and I am pretty sure it is not posted anywhere. I'm going to a burger joint later (I'm getting a lamb burger, no bun, which comes with a Rosemary Aioli). I inquired about the aioli, and they said it was Sir Kensington's mayonnaise (sunflower oil, not the best but reluctantly compliant when eating out), as well as rosemary--the third ingredient was, as the chef said, "lemons which they preserve themselves with a bit of chili, sugar, salt, and rosemary." I can't figure out whether this violates the added sugar rule or not, as I believe the sugar draws out the juice rather than itself being added to the lemon, but I am not completely sure how it works. It seems like everything else in the recipe is compliant though (unless chili powder isn't compliant).

[ShannonM816]

Chili powder is fine.

 

Added sugar isn't. Even just a tiny bit. Take your own oil or dressing, or ask if they have fresh avocados with nothing added to them that you can have.

 

By the way, all the Sir Kensington's mayos I checked on their website list sugar as an ingredient, so even if they didn't add the lemon, it probably wouldn't be okay, unless they have some variety I didn't see on the website.

[Staggolee41]

I doubt they put all of those things on the lemons just to remove them later. Keep in mind, most people eating there probably aren't on a no-sugar diet, and would be very sensitive to lemons that don't have added sugar. Plus... how would they remove sugar that got into the pulp? Unless there is a new superhero that extracts tiny grains from fruit flesh, this would be impossible... once the sugar's there, it's there. Best to skip the lemons.

[ladyshanny]

I never add sugar to my own foods, and am trying to figure out a way to eat out without being too demanding. I've searched this a couple of times and I am pretty sure it is not posted anywhere. I'm going to a burger joint later (I'm getting a lamb burger, no bun, which comes with a Rosemary Aioli). I inquired about the aioli, and they said it was Sir Kensington's mayonnaise (sunflower oil, not the best but reluctantly compliant when eating out), as well as rosemary--the third ingredient was, as the chef said, "lemons which they preserve themselves with a bit of chili, sugar, salt, and rosemary." I can't figure out whether this violates the added sugar rule or not, as I believe the sugar draws out the juice rather than itself being added to the lemon, but I am not completely sure how it works. It seems like everything else in the recipe is compliant though (unless chili powder isn't compliant).

This is a tricky one, I think, because preserved lemons are basically fermented and, like it would be in kombucha, sugar in a ferment is consumed by the ferment.  Kombucha is permitted so I'd be inclined to say that a preserved lemon would be compliant too.  But you'd have to know if the sugar was added before or after preservation and technically you'd have to ask some pretty specific questions about their preservation/fermentation process.  

 

All that said, however, the rule is no added sugar.  I'd just order as planned and "hold the lemons", they won't make or break your meal.  Although they sound delicious!

[livzweig96]

Yes, actually they told me they add the sugar beforehand, which led me to believe that, like kombucha, it was sort of eliminated through fermentation. In addition, in response to the mayonnaise question earlier, their ingredients say organic sugar but their nutrition facts say 0g of sugar. What does that mean? Does anybody know?

[ladyshanny]

Yes, actually they told me they add the sugar beforehand, which led me to believe that, like kombucha, it was sort of eliminated through fermentation. In addition, in response to the mayonnaise question earlier, their ingredients say organic sugar but their nutrition facts say 0g of sugar. What does that mean? Does anybody know?

Ingredients list reigns supreme.  If sugar is added in the ingredients, the product is out.  The manufacturer can claim 0g sugar if they use less than one full gram per serving size but that doesn't mean that they didn't put any in.

 

For all the trying/asking, I would say that this is an item that you would want to decline for the duration of your Whole30 unless you are going to remove all the sauces.

[livzweig96]

Ingredients list reigns supreme.  If sugar is added in the ingredients, the product is out.  The manufacturer can claim 0g sugar if they use less than one full gram per serving size but that doesn't mean that they didn't put any in.

 

For all the trying/asking, I would say that this is an item that you would want to decline for the duration of your Whole30 unless you are going to remove all the sauces.

 

Thank you! This helped a lot. I will just bring in my own garlic extra virgin olive oil or mayo.

[firestorm531]

There's something I never thought of doing...bringing my own dressing to a restaurant!  I'm going to out to eat tomorrow for the first time since starting W30 and thankfully, I was able to pick the restaurant.

 

I've already decided to have a Cobb salad, minus the dressing/cheese but never thought to bring my own dressing.  I just figured I'd eat it with avocado.

 

Has anyone taken their own dressing with them?

[ladyshanny]

There's something I never thought of doing...bringing my own dressing to a restaurant!  I'm going to out to eat tomorrow for the first time since starting W30 and thankfully, I was able to pick the restaurant.

 

I've already decided to have a Cobb salad, minus the dressing/cheese but never thought to bring my own dressing.  I just figured I'd eat it with avocado.

 

Has anyone taken their own dressing with them?

All the time!