Dried lime is a special type of lime that has been dried out. You know how when you leave a piece of fruit out for a long time, it starts to get all wrinkly and dry? Well, that's what happens to a lime when it's dried.
Now you might be wondering, why would anyone want to dry a lime? Well, drying a lime actually makes it last a really long time. When a lime is fresh, it's full of water and can go bad pretty quickly. But when it's dried, all the water is taken out, so it can stay good for a really long time, sometimes even years!
But that's not the only reason people like dried limes. When a lime is dried, it goes through some changes that make it taste and smell different. It becomes more tangy and kind of sour, which some people really like. It also gives off a really nice aroma that can make food taste even better.
Dried lime is used in cooking in many different ways. Some people like to crush it up and sprinkle it on top of their food, almost like a special seasoning. Others like to boil it in water or broth to make a flavorful liquid that can be used in soups, stews, or rice dishes.
In some parts of the world, dried lime is a very important ingredient in traditional dishes. For example, in Middle Eastern cuisine, dried lime is often used in dishes like stews and rice pilafs to add a unique flavor. It is also commonly used in Persian cooking, where it is known as "limoo amani".
So, to sum it all up, dried lime is a wrinkly and dry version of a regular lime that lasts a really long time and has a tangy and sour taste. It is used in cooking to add flavor and aroma to different dishes.