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As we know, oranges are a very versatile and healthy citrus fruit that can be consumed in many ways: in juice, in salad, in jam, in desserts, etc. Candied orange is another delicious and original way to taste this fruit. Its traditional preparation consists of cooking the orange in syrup until it is tender and sweet. In this way, it preserves all its aroma and flavor.
In this article we are going to show how to make candied orange at home, easily and with simple ingredients. We will also recommend the best varieties of orange for candying and the steps to follow to achieve the best results.
What varieties are the best for candying oranges?
In order to make candied oranges at home, the ideal is to choose oranges that have a thin skin, no seeds and a lot of juice. In this way, the orange cooks better and becomes more juicy and aromatic. These are the orange varieties that meet these requirements:
Navel Orange
It is one of the most popular and appreciated varieties for its sweet flavor and high vitamin C content. It has a smooth, shiny skin and a juicy, seedless pulp. It is perfect for candying, since its skin has a medium thickness and a soft texture.
Blood orange
This variety is characterized by its reddish color, due to the presence of anthocyanins, natural pigments with antioxidant properties. It has a sweet and slightly acidic flavor and a thin, easy-to-peel skin. It is ideal for candying, as it provides a touch of color and a different flavor to desserts.
Late Valencia Orange
This variety is late, since it is harvested between March and July. It has a sweet and refreshing flavor, a juicy pulp and has few seeds. It also has a thin and smooth skin, which is a perfect option for candying, since its skin has a very pleasant flavor and caramelizes very well.
What ingredients are needed to make candied oranges?
To make candied oranges at home you only need three basic ingredients: oranges, sugar and water. The proportion of sugar and water will depend on the size and quantity of oranges that we want to preserve, but a guideline measure may be to use twice as much sugar as water. For example, if we use 200 ml of water, we will need 400 g of sugar. We can also add some extra ingredients to give the syrup more flavor, such as cinnamon, vanilla, anise, cloves or cardamom.
Steps to make candied orange
These are the steps to follow to make orange confit at home:
Step 1: wash and cut the oranges.
The first thing to do is wash the oranges well under cold running water, rubbing with a brush or sponge to remove any traces of dirt or wax. Then, we dry the oranges and cut them into thin slices, about 3 or 4 mm thick, trying to make them all similar.
Step 2: blanch the oranges.
This step consists of boiling the oranges in salted water for a few minutes, to soften the skin and eliminate the bitterness. To do this, we put a pot of water on the fire and add a teaspoon of salt. When the water boils, add the orange slices and let them cook for 2 or 3 minutes. Then, we drain them and run them under cold water to stop the cooking.
Step 3: prepare the syrup.
In a large saucepan, pour the water and sugar over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. You can also add some extra aroma, such as a cinnamon stick, a vanilla bean or some anise stars. Then we let the syrup boil for about 5 minutes until it thickens a little.
Step 4: cook the oranges in the syrup.
Add the orange slices to the syrup and cook them over low heat for approximately an hour or until we see that the skin becomes transparent and the syrup reduces. It is important to move the saucepan from time to time so that the slices are well coated with the syrup on both sides.
Step 5: let the oranges cool and dry.
Once the oranges are candied, we remove them from the syrup with a slotted spoon and place them on a rack to reduce excess liquid. Then we let them cool and dry for a few hours, until they are tacky to the touch. We can save the leftover syrup to use in other recipes or to bathe the candied oranges before consuming them.
Step 6: preserving the candied oranges
We now have our candied oranges ready to enjoy. We can use them to decorate, fill our favorite desserts or eat them as a sweet. We can also keep them in an airtight container, either in the refrigerator or freezer, for several months. If we keep them in the refrigerator, we can sprinkle them with a little sugar so that they do not stick to each other.
Where to buy quality candied oranges?
If you don’t have the time or desire to candied orange at home, or if you want to try other varieties of candied fruit, we recommend that you visit the Lazayas website. Our best guarantee is more than 80 years of experience in the manufacture of quality canned fruits for professionals.
In addition to candied oranges, we also have different types of cherries (liqueur, amarena, maraschino) and other candied fruits, such as figs, pumpkin, lemon strips, peaches, apricots or pineapple. All of them are perfect to use in baking, ice cream, chocolate, cocktails or to enjoy as a healthy and delicious snack. Don’t hesitate to contact us to resolve any questions or queries. We will be happy to help you, shall we talk?
