If you want to make the most of every part of your fruits, this delicious and easy recipe using orange peels is just what you need. As gardeners, we often focus on reducing waste in our gardens, but this approach can extend to our kitchens as well! Embracing zero-waste living is a great way to cut down on our environmental impact while getting creative with food scraps. One such kitchen treasure is the humble orange peel, which we often turn into candies—a favorite treat for me and my fiance, Iasmina, after meals.
Why Zero-Waste?
Practicing zero-waste involves rethinking what we usually toss out and finding ways to reuse, recycle, or compost it. This not only helps cut down on the waste heading to landfills but also maximizes the value of what we already have. For gardeners, this mindset extends to handling plant, fruit, and vegetable leftovers. Repurposing food scraps like orange peels not only reduces waste but can also lead to tasty and surprising creations, such as orange peel candies.
Benefits of Orange Peels
Orange peels are often overlooked, but they’re packed with health benefits! They’re rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a nutritious addition to your recipes. Plus, their natural fragrance adds a burst of citrus flavor to everything from teas to baked goods.
But orange peels offer more than just nutritional benefits. For gardeners, they can serve as natural pest repellents when scattered around plants. Their strong citrus scent helps deter slugs and other pests, while they break down gradually to enrich the soil. Whether you use them in the garden or in the kitchen, orange peels are a great way to cut down on waste.
Candied Orange Peels Recipe
This recipe is quick, delicious, and makes for a perfect zero-waste snack. You can even swap oranges for lemons if you’re in the mood to experiment with different flavors.
Candied Orange Peels: A Zero-Waste Delight
Ingredients:
- Peels of 3–4 oranges
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 2 cups water
- 160g dark chocolate
- ½ cup chopped almonds
- Sea salt (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Peels: Slice the orange peels into your preferred size. For this recipe, I like to slice them thinly, with each orange making around eight pieces.
- Blanch the Peels: To remove the bitterness from the white part of the peel, blanch them twice. This will help take away any unwanted bitter flavors.
- Dry the Peels: After blanching, place the peels on a grid and let them cool and dry.
- Melt the Chocolate: While the peels are cooling, melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler. Add the chopped almonds to the melted chocolate for extra texture.
- Coat the Peels: Dip each orange peel into the melted chocolate, ensuring they’re fully coated.
- Cool and Store: Place the chocolate-coated peels on a sheet of baking paper to cool completely. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container where they’ll last for around two months!
By adopting a zero-waste lifestyle, gardeners can discover creative ways to utilize every part of the fruits and vegetables they grow. Whether you’re composting orange peels to boost your soil or turning them into a sweet treat like candied orange peels, the possibilities are endless.
So, the next time you peel an orange, remember that even the scraps have an important role to play in both your garden and kitchen.
