When you buy oranges or receive some in a fresh fruit hamper, you might think that the juicy fruit inside is the only delicious part. This is not true and the peel can be used in many different ways. Here are some great uses for orange peels. In some cases, you can use fresh or dried orange peels but there are some recipes that call for fresh peel.
The next time you make rice and you want to add some citrus flavour, you can do so by adding the peels to the pot. Steam or boil your rice as usual and remove the peels before serving the rice.
You can use a coffee grinder to make your own orange peel powder. Sprinkle this powder over baked goods like cakes or biscuits. If you want to give this powder a sweeter taste, you can combine it with sugar – much like cinnamon and sugar. You can also use this powder in rubs and marinades.
Lemon zest is popular in many recipes and you can use orange zest over roasted dishes. Orange peels work especially well with roasted root vegetables like beets.
Orange or lemon peels can also be added to your tea. When making black or green tea, add a piece of orange peel to the pot and let it steep along with the tea leaves. Similarly, you can also add a small amount of orange peel when making mulled wine. The idea is for the citrus flavour to enhance the overall taste of the beverage. It should not become the primary flavour.
Finally, don’t forget that even if you don’t use orange peels in the kitchen, you can always use these dried peels to make your own potpourri. For the most part, these peels are not normally the only dried material in the bowl. It’s usually accompanied by other dried items like flower petals, cinnamon sticks and cloves.