Marmalicious – Shout out for the Seville orange
For all you marmalade makers we are now stocking some beautiful and bright Seville oranges
Seville oranges are in season from the end of December through to mid-February, when the smell of these fruits floods the streets and squares of the Seville region of Andalucia with its glorious perfume. Britain is the largest market for these oranges – Paddington Bear has a lot to answer for.
Luckily these knobbly-skinned, bitter marvels can be enjoyed year-round as they freeze well whole (wrap them in clingfilm and pack in freezer bags), so when you see them, stock up.
They are generally unwaxed so don’t let them hang around in the fruit bowl for more than a week as they lose their moisture content quickly and become tough, mean and unusable.
Although they are more often than not used to make marmalade, a little rind adds zing to meat dishes and a squeeze of the juice gives that extra excitement and dimension to a gin and tonic.
Classic Seville orange marmalade
Prep Time:1 hour
Cook Time: 2hrs 15 min plus overnight standing
Makes 6 jars (around 350g each)
It’s marmalade making time 🙂 It takes a little time and effort but it’s definitely worth it. You’ll also need a large pan and muslin.
Ingredients
- 1kg Seville oranges
- 1 lemon
- 2 kg sugar
Method
Wash all the fruit thoroughly, dry in a clean tea towel. Pour 2 litres of cold water into a large, wide pan or preserving pan. Cut the oranges and lemon in half, squeeze out the juice and add it to the water. Reserve the pips and orange shells; discard the lemon shell.
Cut the squeezed oranges in half again and, using a metal spoon, scrape the pith and pips into the centre of a large square of muslin. Gather up the edges and tie to form a bag. Add to the pan. Cut the orange peel into strips – chunky for coarse-cut marmalade or thinner for a fine shred. Add to the pan, cover and leave overnight to soften.
The following day, bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour 30 minutes-2 hours, until the peel is very soft and the liquid has reduced by about half. Remove and discard the muslin bag, squeezing as much liquid as possible back into the pan with the back of a wooden spoon.
Put 2 saucers into the freezer to chill. Add the sugar to the pan; stir over a low heat until dissolved. Turn up the heat and boil rapidly until it reaches setting point – about 15 minutes. To test, remove from the heat and spoon a little onto a chilled plate. Let it cool for a few seconds, then push with a finger. If the surface wrinkles, it’s ready; if not, boil for 5 minutes more and test again. Leave to settle for 15 minutes, then skim off any foam. Stir and pour into warm sterilised jars with a waxed disc or circle of baking parchment on top. Seal when cool, then store in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months. Once open, store in the fridge for up to a month.
