Orange peels and rinds are oft ignored flavor salvos just too good to toss or compost. These spongy fruit overcoats hold concentrated essential oils and chewy textures destined to brighten up any pallid palate or daily diet with a shot of orange-flavored sunshine. Hyperbole? I think not. Orange peels are not only tasty morsels, but good for you as well, promising more vitamins, fiber and flavonoids than the actual fruit it protects. And because orange flavor is a universally loved treat, I wanted to find a way to plop it by the spoonful in any batter, bowl or recipe I so chose to emboldened, enrich or imbue.
I came up with a recipe I call Orange Peel Caviar. It gets me and my kitchen conjurings through the misty grey winters of the Pacific Northwest, at least until local fruits and berries appear.
While making orange peel caviar is easy to make, I did feel I had some ‘splainin’ to do, so I made a little instructional video (homemade for sure) for clarity, and my basic need to belabor the subject. 😉
Update: I suggest using organic oranges, as even washing may not rid pesticide from the rinds (from what I read).
Tom’s Homemade Video: How to Make Orange Peel Caviar
I also wrote down the recipe, as seen below. So don’t toss those peels, save them for a bite of sunshine on a rainy day!
Orange Peel Caviar
Print recipe
Ingredients
- 6 - 7 Oranges Peeled
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 1 - 2 tablespoon orange liqueur or brandy (Grand Marnier, Triple Sec)
Directions
| Step 1 | |
| Peel oranges, first cut "north pole" off, and then the "south pole" off | |
| Step 2 | |
| Going lengthwise down the orange make five evenly spaced slits into the peel, to facilitate removal of peel from orange. | |
| Step 3 | |
| Slice peel section into thick julienne widths, like the size of shoestring potatoes, or a little larger. | |
| Step 4 | |
| Put peels in nonreactive pan, add sugar and water and stir to dissolve. | |
| Step 5 | |
| Simmer slowly for about ten minutes and remove from heat. | |
| Step 6 | |
| Let pan cool and reheat the pan at a later time and simmer gently, and shut off heat. Do this a couple more times in the days to come adding more orange peel is fine. The orange peel will candy that is look bright and shiny and firmer, and the runny liquid will become more of a syrup. | |
| Step 7 | |
| Place orange peel in food processor. Add a tablespoon or two of Grand Marnier or Triple Sec or Patron Orange Liqueur and pulse until minced and chunky, and spreadable. | |
| Step 8 | |
| Place orange peel mixture in jars, leaving 1/2 inch air space and add lid, tighten and place in simmering water bath for 10-15 minutes and then remove to cool. If you prefer not to can the mixture, you can freeze it and scoop the orange peel caviar as needed from a ziploc bag or sealed container. | |
The great part of this recipe is not only the taste but how easy it is to set up and make. Any time you eat an orange, save and cut the peel and plop it in a pan of sugar water, simmer and remove from heat and repeat the process every time you add a peel to the pot. When the pan is full, plop orange rinds in food processor, chop into a chunky paste and can or freeze to have on hand when you need some seriously good orange flavor in a recipe or dish. Oh, and it’s good by the spoonful, too.
Little Update…
Despite his rigorous and indispensable role here on the farm, buddy finds time to send you his love.
Water bath can? Also, now I want some chocolate torte.
Hi Anne, yep I usually put this ‘caviar’ in half pint canning jars, like I would any jam.
Tom,
You really do seem to have a creative manner to make the simple gifts appear to be a master piece. Love your choice of the word “caviar”. After watching the video, I can imagine you smiling to yourself about this creative name.
The Furry gang wags their tail to you and Buddy.
V, your insight is spot on, as I was just a wee bit happy about that little moniker. It reminded me of the days when I lived in Alaska and first saw salmon and herring eggs, the real orange caviar.
Hi, Tom,
What? No Buddy? 🙂 It is always a pleasure to see your smiling face and pick up some new ideas. The orange caviar sounds delicious and, like V, I love your choice of the word “caviar.” What did you do to your thumbnail? Ouch!
Thank you Sandra, and as for the thumb, I wish I could feign some dramatic, fighting-bears-off kind of story, but alas, an automatic sliding floral cooler door sprung into action at the wrong time. No other digits were injured, but my thumb has yet to forgive me. And Buddy thanks you, for noticing his glaring absence. I will remedy that with an update photo in the post.
Thanks for adding Buddy to the post, Tom. You really MUST be more careful about this! 🙂
Thank you Tom, wonderful idea. I make orange marmalade this way slicing the rind a little thinner. I love your idea to use as a flavoring for dishes, so much flavor in the peel.
Thanks Betty, So that’s what I could use my potato peeler for …
Thanks, Tom. Great idea. Gene will love this.
Thanks Mimi, Let me know if you need a sample in the meantime. 😉
What a great idea Tom! I bet it would work with lemon and lime peels too. Thanks for sharing.
XO
Hi Janet, glad to share! Thanks!
Lol Tom you are such a foodie. How many people in the US have made something out of citrus peels? Gotta be less than 150.
I bet it would be really nice atop vanilla ice cream, have you tried the one from Costco? Unbelievable!! maybe a little on the sweet side though
Tom, I love your recipe for candied oranges- still have a bag in my freezer so I’ll be using it for the caviar. Can’t help with the caveat though–make this with organic oranges. http://www.pesticideinfo.org/DS.jsp?sk=2006#TopChems
Thanks for the link Sandra, you are absolutely right, go organic, especially when eating the outside of the fruit or vegetable.
So how long do you think it would keep in the frig? This sounds like a good thing to have on hand, but I wouldn’t use much at a time. And I’m thinking this would be an excellent gift item, anytime navels are in season. Or do you think it would produce as good a result with Valencias?
Kathy it will keep in the frig for a month or two and even longer if you add a grand marnier or orange liqueur to it. The sugar and alcohol make for fine preservatives. I’ve tried it with both oranges, and each work just fine. The navels tend to be spongy in texture and the juice oranges and Valencias a bit chewier as their rinds are thinner and a little tougher. Still good though.
I can’t wait to make your orange peel caviar, but I think people should be told to use only organically grown oranges that are pesticide free. And no, washing does not entirely remove pesticides.
Thanks Valerie, I’ll update that, as I’ve looked into it you are so very right. It’s hard to washed off any and all residue.
[…] the cookie cutouts, place on a cookie sheet and add a dab of your favorite jam or marmalade (“orange caviar” used here) or sprinkle with cinnamon […]
I always buy cartons of navel oranges in the cold months. I was looking at the peels today and suddenly remembered this! You’re an evil genius in using up every little thing, Tom! Thanks!
Why thank you Valerie…wait for it…Bwahaha (currently wringing my hands). 😉
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