I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: these dark, wintery days in Chicago really test my love for the Midwest. But there’s one bright spot in these gloomy days: citrus season! I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Mother Nature gave us citrus season right smack dab in the middle of winter: she knew we would need some warm colors and zesty flavors to make it through, and she was right.
During the winter, I use all of those gorgeous citrus I can get my hands on to perk up all of my favorite recipes. Here’s some of my favorite ways to add some zest into cold winter days!
1. Brighten Up Your Salads
I’m the queen of exciting salads, and incorporating winter citrus into my greens is a signature move for me. I love using every part of lemons, oranges, and grapefruits for a salad: first, zest the citrus into your (citrus juice!) dressing, then suprême the fruit itself and include the delicate flesh in the salad! Don’t throw away the rind, either—instead, use it to make infused olive oils and fragrant marinades for olives. Experiment with what types of citrus work best with the hearty winter greens that pop up at the winter farmers’ markets, too: kale plays well with lemon, and radicchio is a gorgeous match for orange juice. Mix and match and find a new winter favorite!
2. Sweet and Savory Citrus Glazes
Brighten up any winter bake with a glaze made from fresh lemon or orange juice. All you have to do is squeeze citrus juices into a bowl of powdered sugar and add a pinch of salt. You can also use citrus glazes on savory dishes, like roasted meats or vegetables. Simply reduce the citrus juice with sugar and salt until it’s slightly thickened, then brush it over your roast as it's cooking. Serve the glaze with the final dish for an extra kick.
3. DIY Citrus Preserves
Preserve the seasonal citrus for use all year round in glass jars to brighten up your kitchen. Citrus can be preserved by using sweet applications, like sugar or syrups, or salty, as with traditional preserved lemons. From preserved lemons to lemon peel pickles to candied oranges or limequats, the potential for keeping these flavors going all year round is endless. From there, you can cook the citrus flavor into a wide variety of dishes, like shakshuka, pasta sauces, or use them to add citrus flair and decoration to holiday cakes.
4. Make Citrus-Infused Drinks and Cocktails
Lastly, make the most of the bright, flavorful juices of winter citrus by stirring them into beverages from morning to night: start with a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice in your morning tea, then make a citrus shrub for an afternoon mocktail. Dry some lemon peels to use in your own tea blends, then use the rest of the peels to make your own infused simple syrups for when you tend bar.
Learn how to harness the powerful flavors of winter citrus with our class, Hands-On Winter Citrus: Tangy and Tempting on Thursday, January 16 at 6pm. You'll learn how to work with different varieties of citrus in new and creative ways that showcase their versatility to bring fresh and bright flavors to your sweet and savory recipes.
