How To Use Citrus Fruit and Zest

All home cooks can get stuck in a rotation of making the same old dishes. (Boring!) In this post, How To Use Citrus Fruit and Zest, I want you to see new ways to use it and try something. From meatballs to muffins, citrus adds a bright fresh taste wherever you use it.

this gluten free recipe

Citrus fruit year is available year round but when it's in season the fruits are juicier and the variety is amazing. Juicy Cara Cara oranges, blood oranges, satsumas, clementines, ruby red grapefruits, Meyer lemons and Key limes and more, are waiting to be tried. Here's a recipe roundup with 15 of my favourites.

🍊 How To Cut Citrus Supremes

I've been cutting oranges and grapefruits like this for years but never knew they were called supremes. It's simply a method of cutting to remove all the membrane and pith from the outside of the fruit. The last step is to remove each section from the membrane and you have citrus supremes.

In my kitchen we think it's worth the effort. Just give it a try!

🍋 Tips for Zesting Citrus Fruit

The zest is the coloured part of the peel only, none of the white pith. It has a high amount of fibre and vitamin C and adding a small amount can perk up meatballs, pasta dishes, muffins and more.

I use an old-fashioned hand zester with several holes at the top to make long strips of zest like you see in this video. I freeze the strips then use it right out of the freezer chopped as fine as I need for each recipe.

Of course I have a rast, the popular tool you see on cooking shows that people often call a Microplane grater. Microplane is actually the brand name. There are many other brands available as well as different sizes to choose from.

I use my rast when I'm finishing a dish with a little zest on top. Hold the rast firmly in one hand, then rub the fruit back and forth across the holes and let the zest fall right on top of your dish.

A rast can also be used to grate Parmesan cheese, chocolate, garlic, ginger and more.

Add citrus zest to muffins, pancakes, cookies and scones. Try lemon or lime zest in marinades, on roast potatoes, fish dishes or chicken is heavenly. Try it in anything, you can’t go wrong.

🥶 Freezing Citrus Zest

Zest citrus fruit as often as you can. I try to remove the zest of oranges, lemons and limes before I use them for anything. I put that zest right into the freezer and always have some on hand when I need it. It will keep for months but try and use it.

I have a small container in my freezer for each type of zest and they stay there whether they're full or empty.

🍊🍋 15 Citrus Recipes; Lemon, Lime, Orange & Grapefruit

1

Pork and Shrimp Lemongrass Skewers

A little orange zest brightens up this flavourful appetizer.

Check out this recipe

2

Spicy Thai Meatballs in Lettuce Cups

With orange zest in the meatballs and the citrusy ponzu sauce this is a tasty, healthy appetizer.

Check out this recipe

3

Grapefruit Avocado Salad with Tomato Cumin Dressing

This unique combination makes a beautifully composed winter salad that will stand out on any buffet table.

Check out this recipe

4

Mexican Avocado Orange Salad

This green salad bursting with citrus flavour will go with any Mexican inspired meal from tacos to pork carnitas.

Check out this recipe

5

Cranberry Orange Lettuce Salad

This salad has a simple Orange Poppy Seed Dressing that, like most dressings, can be made in two minutes. Maybe one if you're fast.

Check out this recipe

6

Arctic Char with Citrus Sauce

This is a winter recipe that highlights a variety of citrus fruits when they are in season. Learn to cut citrus supremes and you've got an easy main course dish to add to your meal rotation that is worthy of serving to friends.

Check out this recipe

7

Gluten Free Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas is the Mexican version of pulled pork; succulent strings of pork piled onto homemade corn tortillas with all the toppings!

Check out this recipe

8

Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce

Grilled Flank Steak with Chipotle Honey Sauce is a Mexican-style steak with lime, cilantro and chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. Must try!

Check out this recipe

9

Hazelnut Lemon Halibut

Lemon zest in the breading is brilliant!

Check out this recipe

10

Grilled Chicken with Adobo Paste

I guarantee this is the best damn rub you’ll make all summer! And every summer after that. Gluten free cooks have reusable grilling sheets to cook on any grill.

Check out this recipe

11

Persian Chicken Stew (Fesenjan)

Known as Fesenjan, this dish is rich and flavourful with toasted walnuts, pomegranate molasses and a hint of orange. The sparkling pomegranate arils create a spectacular presentation and learning the pomegranate hack is always fun for everyday cooks.

Check out this recipe

12

Cranberry Orange Salsa

Cranberry and orange is a perfect match. Try this with nachos or fish tacos.

Check out this recipe

13

Gluten Free Cornmeal Raspberry Muffins

Lemon zest adds a burst of citrus to these muffins.

Check out this recipe

14

Gluten Free Orange Cupcakes with Orange Icing

These cupcakes are bursting with citrus flavour. Rather than a flour blend this recipe uses sorghum flour and potato starch. With vegetable shortening in the icing, instead of butter, these cupcakes are gluten free, dairy free and rice free.

Check out this recipe

15

Homemade Lemon Curd (Lemon Butter)

Lemon curd can be as simple as serving it while standing at the kitchen counter or as decadent as you can imagine in any fancy dessert.

Check out this recipe

16

Gluten Free Lemon Meringue Pie

Yes, you can make gluten free Lemon Meringue Pie with billowy meringue piled high on top of a luscious lemon filling. Just give it a try!

Check out this recipe

17

Gluten Free Key Lime Pie in a Jar

Seasoned celiacs love anything served in individual portions. No one else needs to know that you're doing it to avoid cross contact.

Check out this recipe

Let me know in the comments below if you found something new you want to try.