Description
Mediterranean candied orange peel showcases citrus elegance from Sicily’s culinary traditions. Sweet preservation methods highlight natural citrus flavors while creating an authentic dessert experience for adventurous palates.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (150 g/5.3 oz) orange peel, thinly sliced into ¼” thick slices
- 2 ½ cups (500 g/17.6 oz) sugar
- 2 cups (450 g/15.9 oz) water
- 2 tbsps (42 g/1.5 oz) light honey or corn syrup
- 2 tbsps water
- ¼ tsp citric acid
- ½ tsp orange blossom water
Instructions
- Peel Preparation: Delicately trim orange peels, removing excess pith and slicing into uniform 1/4″ strips. Optional: Soak or pre-boil peels to diminish bitterness.
- Syrup Creation: In a saucepan, merge sugar, water, and honey over medium heat. Gently simmer peels until syrup reaches 230ºF, approximately 50 minutes, minimizing stirring to prevent sugar crystallization.
- Flavor Enhancement: Dissolve citric acid and orange blossom water, then incorporate into the simmering syrup before removing from heat.
- Jar Sterilization: Thoroughly cleanse jars and lids with hot soapy water. Gradually warm jars in a water-bath canning setup, ensuring water covers containers by at least an inch.
- Filling and Sealing: Transfer candied peels evenly into sterilized jars using a slotted spoon. Pour hot syrup over peels, maintaining 1/4″ headspace. Meticulously clean jar rims and secure lids.
- Processing: Submerge sealed jars in boiling water bath for 10 minutes, followed by an additional 5-minute rest. Allow jars to cool at room temperature for 24 hours before storage or handling.
Notes
- Prevent Bitterness: Soak or pre-boil peels to reduce harsh citrus flavors, changing water helps remove intense bitter notes.
- Temperature Precision: Use a candy thermometer to accurately reach 230ºF, which ensures perfect syrup consistency and prevents sugar crystallization.
- Careful Handling: Minimize stirring during syrup cooking to maintain smooth texture and prevent unwanted sugar crystal formation.
- Sterilization Matters: Thoroughly clean jars and lids with hot soapy water to prevent contamination and ensure safe preservation of candied orange peels.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 337
- Sugar: 82 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 84 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg