“And the fruits will outdo what the flowers have promised.”
Francois de Malherbe
I sent my daughter & her friend off to my neighbours house to get a bagful of these tart little oranges; also referred to as ‘narangis‘ here. My neighbours’ tree was laden with them & she was more than happy to see them put to good use. I sent her a jar too, & distributed all but one, as I have a long list of bitter marmalade lovers waiting for their anual share! Most people here grow these plants for ornamental value. I got this British-style recipe from a friend of my mothers’. British-style marmalade is a sweet preserve with a bitter tang made from fruit, sugar, water, and (in some commercial brands) a gelling agent. American-style marmalade is sweet, not bitter.
BITTER ORANGES
The name “bitter orange” refers to a citrus tree (Citrus aurantium) and its fruit. Many varieties of bitter oranges are used for their essential oil, which is used in perfume and as a flavoring. They are also used in herbal medicine. Other names include sour orange, bigarade orange and Seville orange. Seville orange (or bigarade) is a widely-known, extremely tart orange now grown throughout the Mediterranean region. It has a thick, dimpled skin and is prized for making marmalade, being higher in pectin than the sweet orange. The unripe fruit called “narthangai” is commonly used in Southern Indian food, especially in Tamil cuisine.
Fresh off the tree from my neighbours’ house…
Pipped!!
Every year when winter comes, I look at the fruit laden tree & talk myself into making marmalade again. It’s tough work & I end up like a clone of Edward Scissorhands because I snip the peels with kitchen scissors, & it takes forever. DH is witness to my swearing I shall never make marmalade again; & is also witness to my backtracking die-hard ways year after year. The taste of the marmalade is unbelieveable. It is typically bittersweet & to die for; many many leagues ahead of some store bought jars. Hot buttered toasts with a dash of marmalade is pure nirvana. Both the kids love a spoonful when they return home from school!!
Ingredients:
Tangerines – 1 kg
Sugar – 1 kg
Water – 250ml
Method:
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Sterilize 4-5 jam jars. Place a metal spoon in each jar (this ensures that the glass jar will not crack when the hot jam is poured in).
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Halve the tangerines & deseed them. Tie the seeds in a small piece of cheesecloth & reserve them.
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Now quarter the tangerines & then snip finely into strips with kitchen scissors.
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Put the strips with the pouch of seeds in a heavy bottom pan on full heat. Boil for 2-3 minutes till the peel is tender, stirring constantly.
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Add water & boil for 2-3 minutes. Now add sugar, stirring constantly.
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Continue to boil on full heat for a further 10-15 minutes until the mixture thickens & the strips becomes translucent.
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Drop a few drops on a cold plate (like a metal steel plate to check if the jam is setting).
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Put off the flame, discard the muslin pouch with the seeds & cool the pan slightly in a bath of cold water for 10minutes.
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Now pour the marmalade into the jars. Refridgerate.
In jars & waiting for despatch!
Gotta get this to Andreas‘ for her ‘Grow Your Own’ event quick. She hosts an event that celebrates the bounty of the garden.