Candied Lime Peel Recipes

ORANGE PEEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the candied orange peels: Bring 3 small pots of water to a boil. Divide the skins in the water and cook for 4 minutes in each pot before draining. This process removes bitterness from the skin.
• Combine the sugar, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon and 2 1/2 cups water in one of the pots from boiling the oranges and submerge the blanched orange skins. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. (Do not allow the syrup to brown or discolor.)
• Drain the skins of any excess syrup (reserve the syrup for another use, such as for cocktails) and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Cover and allow them to sit overnight. Cut them into strips.
• Make the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together the soy sauce, honey, lime juice, garlic and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil over medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly, about 10 minutes.
• For the stir-fry: In a large heavy-bottomed skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke, add the mushrooms with a pinch of salt and cook until they soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the skillet. Add 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet and heat until it smokes lightly. Spread the chicken out in a single layer on a sheet tray and sprinkle with salt. Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer. Allow the chicken to cook, mostly untouched, stirring once, until it browns around the edges and is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a separate medium skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat and add the orange peel strips. Cook until slightly crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• To the skillet with the chicken, add the snow peas, garlic, scallions and mushrooms. Taste for seasoning. Add the chiles de arbol, if using, and the grated ginger. Add half of the fried orange peel slices and the sauce, then transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with the remaining fried orange peels. Serve with the rice.

CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

Steps:

• Place peel strips in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes longer. Drain. Repeat this process two more times.
• In a medium saucepan, heat sugar and 1/4 cup water over high heat until boiling. Place peel in sugar mixture, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, until sugar is dissolved. Remove peel with slotted spoon and dry on wire rack overnight. Store in airtight container.

CANDIED CITRUS PEELS

Steps:

• Using a paring knife, make 6 slits along curve from top to bottom of each citrus fruit, cutting through peel but not into fruit. Using your fingers, gently remove peel. Reserve fruit for another use. Slice each piece of peel lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Using a paring knife, remove excess pith from each strip and discard.
• Place strips in a large saucepan, and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then drain. Repeat twice.
• Bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Stop stirring. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Add strips to boiling syrup, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer gently until strips are translucent, about 1 hour. Remove from heat, and let strips cool in syrup. (Strips in syrup will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 3 weeks.)
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to a wire rack placed on a rimmed baking sheet. Wipe off excess syrup with paper towels, then roll strips in sugar. Arrange in a single layer on a wire rack, and let dry for at least 30 minutes.

CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• Cut lemons into slices about 1/4 inch thick and remove the fruit pulp. Cut the rings in half so the peels are in long strips.
• Bring water and lemon peel to a boil in a small pan. Drain water, and repeat with fresh cold water. Repeat the boiling step three times (see Editor's Note). Drain and set peels aside.
• Combine 2 cups fresh water with 2 cups sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to low and stir in citrus peels; simmer until the white pith is translucent. Store peels in syrup, refrigerated, to keep them soft, or allow them to dry. Toss dry candied peels in additional sugar and store airtight at room temperature.

CANDIED LIME SLICES

Steps:

• Slice limes into thin rounds, blanch in a pot of boiling water for 2 min & drain.
• In the same pot, combine water & 1 cup sugar. Bring to a simmer & add lime slices. Simmer for 10-15 min, till white pith of limes looks translucent (May take longer if pith is esp thick or dense).
• Drain & spread out on a cooling rack to dry for at least 1 hour.
• Put 2 tbsp sugar in shallow bowl or saucer. When limes are dry, coat both sides of the lime slices by pressing them into the sugar (May need more sugar for good coverage).
• Store in an airtight container & layer between parchment paper or plastic wrap till ready to use. I freeze these when I make a batch & then just take out what I need to use.

CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, slice off ends of grapefruits, oranges, or lemons. Following curve of fruit, cut away outermost peel, leaving most of the white pith on fruit. Slice peel lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
• In a medium pot of boiling water, cook peel until tender, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer peel to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet; spread in a single layer to dry slightly, about 15 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a boil over high, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add peel and boil until it turns translucent and syrup thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer peel to wire rack, separating the pieces as needed.
• Let peel dry 1 hour. Toss with 1/2 cup sugar to coat.

CHOCOLATE LIME FONDANTS WITH CANDIED LIME PEEL

Steps:

• For the candied lime peel, put the sugar and 150ml water in a small saucepan over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a slow simmer. Add the strips of lime peel and cook gently for 25 mins until the peel has softened and the syrup has thickened. Sprinkle a layer of caster sugar over a sheet of baking parchment, lift the softened lime peel with a slotted spoon onto the sugar and roll to coat. Leave to cool until hardened. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
• Next, make the lime curd. Put the lime juice and zest, sugar, cornflour, butter, eggs and egg yolk in a heatproof bowl, and whisk together to combine. Set the bowl on top of a pan of simmering water, and continue to whisk for about 20 mins until thickened - don't be alarmed if it looks like it has curdled at first, as once the butter has melted, it will come together. It should coat the back of the spoon once done. Stir through the food colouring, if using, and set aside to cool. Will keep, chilled, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Brush the moulds with the melted butter, then place them on a tray and put in the freezer for 10 mins or until the butter has set. Take out and brush with butter again, then return to the freezer for another 10 mins. Dust the insides with a good coating of cocoa powder, tap out any excess and set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together, then leave to cool.
• Whisk the sugar and eggs with an electric hand whisk until light, fluffy and the mixture has tripled in volume. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and lime zest, and mix well. Fold the flour gently and quickly into the fondant mixture until fully incorporated, then spoon the mixture into the moulds, filling them almost to the top - leave a little space as they will rise. Bake in the oven for 10 mins or until a crust has formed and the sides are just starting to come away from the moulds.
• Remove from the oven, and leave to stand for 1 min, then turn out - don't leave them any longer or the heat from the moulds will continue to cook the fondant and they won't have an oozy centre. To serve, place a spoonful of curd on each serving plate and spread with the back of a spoon. Place the fondants on top, and top each one with candied lime peel.

CANDIED CITRUS PEEL

Steps:

• Cut the fruit into 8 wedges, then cut out the flesh, leaving about 5mm thickness of peel and pith. Cut each wedge into 3-4 strips.
• Put the peel in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 mins. Drain, return to the pan and re-cover with fresh water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 mins.
• Set a sieve over a bowl and drain the peel, reserving the cooking water. Add 100g sugar to each 100ml water you have. Pour into a pan and gently heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the peel and simmer for 30 mins until the peel is translucent and soft. Leave to cool in the syrup, then remove with a slotted spoon and arrange in 1 layer on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Put in the oven at the lowest setting for 30 mins to dry.
• Sprinkle a layer of sugar over a sheet of baking parchment. Toss the strips of peel in the sugar, a few at a time, then spread out and leave for 1 hr or so to air-dry.
• Pack the peel into an airtight storage jar or rigid container lined with baking parchment. Will keep for 6-8 weeks in a cool, dry place.
• To make into a delicious gift, melt the chocolate in a small bowl. Dip the candied orange peel into the chocolate to half-coat them, shaking off the excess. Put them on baking parchment to set, then pack into small cellophane bags tied with ribbon or pretty kitchen string.

CANDIED LEMON PEEL

Steps:

• With a sharp knife, score each lemon, cutting peel into four wedge-shaped sections. Loosen and remove peel with a spoon (save fruit for another use)., Place peel in a large heavy saucepan and cover with cold water., Bring to a boil. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Drain and repeat. Cool for 5 minutes. Carefully scrape off excess pulp from peel. Cut the peel into 1/4-in. strips., In another saucepan, combine sugar and water; cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Add lemon strips. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; simmer, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes or until peels are transparent, stirring occasionally., Using a slotted spoon, transfer strips to wire racks placed over a baking pan. Let stand for 1 hour. Sprinkle superfine sugar into an ungreased 15x10x1-in. pan. Sprinkle strips over sugar; toss to coat. Let stand for 8 hours or overnight, tossing occasionally., In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each strip into chocolate mixture; place on waxed paper until set. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.