Make the Most of Citrus Fruits

Make the Most of Citrus Fruits

The zesty flavors and sunny colors of citrus fruits can punch up a salad dressing, enhance a marinade, or turn the simplest drink into something special. Lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits are the shining stars of the citrus family, and widely available at this time of year. You can use both the zest and juice of limes and lemons to enliven a variety of dishes and enjoy oranges and grapefruit, as well as tangerines and clementines, either eaten out of hand or in desserts, salsas, or salads. These fruits can also be used in chicken and fish dishes, as well as pilafs.

Here’s how to squeeze the most out of citrus:

Shop wisely

Choose fruits that are heavy for their size and that have firm, smooth skin. Avoid buying fruit that appears wrinkled or bruised. At home, store lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, and clementines for up to a week at room temperature or in a tightly sealed bag in the refrigerator, where they will last for up to three weeks. Store grapefruit for a few days at room temperature or wrapped in a plastic bag in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for two weeks.

Get the best from your zest

To grate citrus zest, wash and dry the fruit. Next, using either a Microplane zester/grater or box grater, grate just the colored part of the peel (not the white pith), rotating the fruit as you go, so you don’t grate an area more than once. Use the zest in marinades and salad dressings, as a last-minute addition to soups and stews, or sprinkled on fruit desserts.

Juice it right

When you’re juicing a lemon, lime, or orange, be sure it’s at room temperature. Rolling it on the countertop for a few seconds is an effective (and low-tech!) way to get more juice. Cut the fruit in half and then use a handheld citrus reamer or a glass citrus juicer, if you have one, or simply hold the fruit over a bowl and squeeze each half to extract the juice. You can also get juice from the membranes.

Segment smart

Remove a thin slice from both sides of the fruit, using a sharp knife. Place the fruit on a work surface. Next, remove the peel and the white pith by sliding a sharp paring knife along the curve of the fruit. Cut into the fruit, between the membranes. This will release the individual segments. Working over a bowl allows you to catch the juices of the fruit. Next, squeeze all the juice from the membranes into the bowl.

Jazz up a marinade

Whisk together 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon, lime, or orange juice, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 finely minced shallot, 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme, a pinch of sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Use for marinating chicken or fish.

Vary your vinaigrette

Replace vinegar with lemon or lime juice in a variety of salad dressings. For an easy vinaigrette for a mixed green salad, whisk 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice, 4 to 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (depending on how lemony you want your dressing), 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or lime zest, a pinch of kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Dress your salad with no more than 2 tablespoons.

Make over your mayo

For a flavorful mayonnaise, combine 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill, and 1/2 cup of low-fat, light, or regular mayonnaise. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Use as a sandwich spread or a dip for baked chicken fingers.

Prepare a citrus tea

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the zest from 1 lemon and 1 lime, making sure the pieces are about 1/2-inch wide. Place the strips of zest into your teapot the next time you are brewing tea, and let them steep for about 5 minutes with the tea. Remove the zest before serving the tea, which you can enjoy hot or chilled. Either way, garnish with lemon slices.