Group · Herbs & spices
Lemon zest
Lemon zest is the thin coloured part of the peel of the lemon, rich in aromatic essential oils. It is removed with a zester, a fine grater or a peeler, taking care to take only the yellow part without the white pith, which is more bitter. Fresh, dried or candied, it flavours sweet and savoury dishes alike. In terms of nutrition facts, it provides about 47 kcal per 100 g, but as it is used in very small amounts, its calorie contribution is negligible. Its particularity: a high fibre content (10.6 g) and vitamin C, plus remarkable aromatic intensity. It is a great choice for lifting a recipe without adding salt or fat.
Macronutrient breakdown
Nutrition table per 100 g
| Calories | 47 kcal |
| Kilojoules | 197 kJ |
| Protein | 1,5 g |
| Carbohydrate | 5,4 g |
| Fat | 0,3 g |
| Fibre | 10,6 g |
Micronutrients per 100 g
All measured nutrients, ranked by share of the daily reference intake.
- Vitamin C129 mg161 %
- Calcium134 mg17 %
- Selenium7 µg13 %
- Vitamin B60,17 mg12 %
- Copper0,09 mg9 %
- Potassium160 mg8 %
- Iron0,8 mg6 %
- Vitamin B20,08 mg6 %
- Vitamin B9dietary folate equivalents13 µg
See the other 10 nutrients
- Vitamin B10,06 mg5 %
- Vitamin B50,32 mg5 %
- Magnesium15 mg4 %
- Zinc0,25 mg3 %
- Vitamin B30,4 mg3 %
- Vitamin E0,25 mg2 %
- Phosphorus12 mg2 %
- Omega-3 ALA0,03 g1 %
- Omega-6 LA0,06 g1 %
- Vitamin A0,58 µg0 %
Anses Ciqual 2025. Source: Anses, 2025, Ciqual food composition table
Tips
Lemon zest is used in small touches: half a teaspoon is enough to transform a yoghurt, a vinaigrette, a fish dish or a cake batter. Prefer an unwaxed lemon, well washed, and zest it just before use to keep all the volatile aroma. You can also freeze it, dry it in a low oven or candy it to keep it longer.
- In savoury cooking: it enhances fish, poultry, marinades and sauces. Pair it with fresh herbs such as fresh parsley or fresh thyme for a Mediterranean note.
- In sweet cooking: it flavours cakes, creams, sorbets and herbal teas. It goes very well with vanilla extract or ground cinnamon.
- As an infusion: added to hot water, it brings freshness and fragrance without a single calorie.
Nutritionally, the zest concentrates more vitamin C, fibre and aromatic compounds (the famous essential oils rich in limonene) than the flesh. Its fibre contributes to fullness, even if the actual portion is tiny. Its glycaemic index has no effect given the quantities used, and its fat is almost non-existent. It is therefore an ideal ingredient for weight loss: it boosts flavour where you would be tempted to add sugar, butter or salt.
For active people, lemon zest is an excellent flavour enhancer without superfluous calories. It perks up flavoured water during exercise, flavours a fromage blanc as a recovery snack, or lifts a dish of wholegrain starchy foods without weighing down the energy balance. You can add it to a homemade protein cake recipe to vary the flavours, as mentioned in our protein snack ideas.
For weight control, the zest ticks every box: no calorie density in use, zero added sugar, and real aromatic power that helps reduce salt and fat in your preparations. To go further, explore other seasonings in the Herbs & Spices family, or discover orange zest, its milder, slightly sweet cousin. A simple and tasty tip for healthy everyday cooking.