Give Savory Dishes a Gourmet Flair with Florida Oranges

Florida oranges are great for snacks or with breakfast, but you can also add orange segments, orange zest, and orange juice to savory main meals to give a new flavor to your old recipes. Many of the top chefs around the world consistently use orange juice and other citrus juices and zests when they cook meat like fish or game because the acidity of the orange juice balances out the richness of the meat flavor and the zest adds a kick of citrus taste. If you’re a parent with kids cooking with orange juice instead of water is a great way to give your kids an extra shot of Vitamin C and iron that they need to be healthy without them even knowing about it. Here are some professional chef’s recommendations for cooking with citrus:

Marinades are easy and delicious – the simplest way to introduce Florida oranges into your savory meals is to use orange juice in a marinade. Marinades are easy to make yourself by mixing fresh orange juice with olive oil or another gourmet oil and spices. To create a sweet and tart marinade mix orange juice and fresh grapefruit juice together in a marinade. Let the meat you’re cooking soak in the marinade for at least two hours to get the maximum amount of flavor and to keep the meat tender when cooking. Citrus marinades can be used on fish, poultry and game and are especially good on duck and fish dishes.

Simple substitutions can lead to fresh new flavors – When making familiar sauces for meat dishes substitute orange juice for the water portion of the sauce, or use water for half the amount necessary and orange juice for the other half. Instead of using lemon zest try orange zest in your favorite recipes and you’ll be amazed at the difference in taste. You can infuse a totally new flavor into a sauce you’ve made dozens of time with just that simple citrus fruit substitutions.

Orange segments are great garnishes for meat dishes – If you’re not brave enough to try sauces made with Florida oranges try just garnishing your traditional meat dishes with orange segments or candied orange peel. That way if the person eating it doesn’t want that bright burst of citrus flavor they don’t have to have it. But having it there may inspire your family and friends to try a bold new flavor that they haven’t experienced before.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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