Ingredient of the month – Blood orange!
Whilst it may not have the most appetising of names, blood orange sure does make up for it in flavour. Citrus x sinensis, you are my latest ingredient of the month! Like most of my favourite ingredients, blood oranges are a beautiful addition to both savoury flavours, as well as sprucing up sweet citrus dishes.
Now, I’m certainly never one to say no to tea (in fact, I deem myself a true tea-a-holic), but sometimes all I crave is a freshly squeezed orange juice. I find it's always best to juice oranges at room temperature (rather than straight from the fridge). And another handy tip is to give the oranges a good roll around on the bench top or chopping board, pressing down on the skin to soften the flesh prior to juicing.
To add a dash of colour to your breakfast, whip up a bowl of fromage frais (or yoghurt if you prefer) and granola, and top with slices of lovely blood orange.
Freshly squeezed blood orange juice is also a nice addition when making homemade cranberry sauce. Although, blood oranges tend to be slightly tarter than regular sweet oranges, so make sure you get the balance right when adding the sugar.
Crunchy kale and citrus salad recipe in my Evening Standard Column
I use orange and grapefruit in my crunchy kale and citrus salad recipe, but I think you can use blood orange as a substitute for ordinary oranges in most recipes. Try out my citrus salad recipe here. I think it’s a great idea to have a few quick and simple salad recipes to whip out when you feel like something fresh, or if you’re a tad run down and need something quick and healthy to add to your dinner.
A quick and simple salad with blood orange, baby spinach and goats cheese
For a quick simple salad, toss together a generous handful of baby spinach and thinly sliced blood oranges (save any leftover juice when slicing, and use for extra dressing), top with goats cheese and a drizzle of peppery olive oil.
The zesty flavour of blood orange pairs nicely with fennel, beetroot and pomegranate, so keep an eye out for these ingredients when buying blood oranges. Bursting with bright and cheery red hues, blood oranges are quite a playful ingredient – perfect for experimenting. And it's nice to have something colourful in the kitchen during the winter months.
And if you feel like you need a playlist to accompany your culinary endeavours when cooking (or juicing) with this lovely sanguine fruit, try Dev Hynes aka Blood Orange:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfZMvTHJLUs
Perhaps by now I may have whet your appetite for something tangy and fresh. If you're seeking other citrus-inspired ideas, click here to read my ideas for cooking with clementines.
And here are some more recipes to keep in mind when cooking with blood oranges this winter (and spring! Hopefully the season lasts for a few more months this year):
