Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A Splash of Orange


The essence of oranges is used in recipes across the board from dessert to salads to entrees with beef, pork and chicken.

Oranges are a common ingredient in our salads, and are usually peeled, segmented and added to fresh greens along with cheese and nuts. This month we bring you oranges in a few different ways.

Basmati, Sauteed Vegetables & Flank Steak

An uncommon and surprising use of mandarin oranges is in the recipe, Basmati, Sauteed Vegetables & Flank Steak which combines stir-fried vegetables and marinated flank steak with basmati rice that is tossed with the mandarin oranges after it is cooked. Every bite is a wonderful flavor discovery from spicy hot to the sweetness of the oranges.

Ginger & Orange Curried Fried Fish gets its splash of orange from orange zest in the marinade. The marinade is a blend of orange zest, ginger and buttermilk. The marinade gives the fish a subtle under layer of flavor that pairs beautifully with the curry, ginger and pepper that make up the flour coating. Served with chutney, this is wonderful and different fried fish dish.

Ginger & Orange Curried Fried Fish

We also experimented with a literal splash of orange when testing for our Decadent Hot Chocolate. The unadorned hot chocolate is sinfully rich and smooth with no additional flavorings, but for those who like a little extra something, the addition of a drop of orange oil, transforms these little pools of ‘heaven in a cup’ into liquid truffles. A must try!

Next time you’re experimenting with a recipe and want to give it something special, try a bit of orange or other citrus juice or zest. You may be surprised at the delicious flavor combinations you can create by thinking (and cooking) outside the box!

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