Citrus is our favorite fruit to reach for, regardless of the season. If you’re looking for ways to use lemons, mandarins and navel oranges in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered with tips and flavor-packed recipes to inspire a new season of cooking.
Do you know where much of our citrus comes from during the summer and fall months? Chile!
That’s right: When it’s summer here, it’s winter in Chile, so Chilean lemons, mandarins and navel oranges are readily available. Today we’re excited to share some of our favorite citrus recipes that are sure to amp up the flavor and nutrition of just about anything. Let’s dig in!
How to Use Citrus in the Kitchen
While you might typically eat your favorite citrus fruits out of hand, there are some easy ways to incorporate lemons, mandarins and navel oranges into your everyday cooking.
- Grilling: Grilling citrus adds a subtle, smoky flavor and makes the fruit extra juicy. It’s easy: simply slice a lemon, mandarin or orange in half and grill face down until you see grill marks!
- Zesting: Citrus zest perks up baked goods, pasta, salads or desserts, and it’s a great salt substitute. If you’re a fan of cocktails, mix a little zest with some sugar to rim a glass!
- Juicing: What would a love letter to citrus be without mentioning juicing? While we love drinking fresh juice in the morning (or anytime!), it’s also great whisked into sauces, dips and salad dressings.
Mandarins
Navel Oranges
There’s a reason navel oranges are so prevalent and widely-loved: they’re sweet, seedless, and easy to peel. Even better,
Here are a few ways we enjoy navels:
- Juice them for a refreshing start to the day
- Whisk the juice into a marinade for fish or chicken
- If you’re feeling ambitious, navels make amazing jam or marmalade to spread on toast
Lemons
As for go-to ways to use lemons in the kitchen:
- Squeeze lemons into your water to stay hydrated throughout the day
- Roast salmon or chicken with thinly sliced lemons
- Zest fresh lemons to use in baked goods like breads, muffins or scones, or add to pastas and salads
- Add lemon juice to dressings, dips and sauces
A Few Favorite Citrus Recipes
Citrus from Chile provides wonderful recipes, from sweet to savory and everything in between. If you’re looking for a few of our favorite picks, look no further!
