Poached Blood Oranges in Clementine Ratafia
- 6 clementines, rinsed
- 15 ounces vodka
- 14 1/2-inch stick cinnamon, in pieces
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
- 7 ounces sugar, plus 2 1/2 pounds
- 13 pounds blood oranges (about 20)
- 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (from about 5 or 6 lemons)
- To make the ratafia: halve and juice the clementines.
- Remove the pulp.
- Thinly slice the peels of 5 clementines.
- In a jar, combine the clementine juice, peel, vodka, cinnamon, coriander and 7 ounces sugar.
- Stir, then refrigerate, shaking once a day for the first few days to dissolve the sugar.
- Store for 2 months (that's not a typo), then strain through cheesecloth.
- The ratafia may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 years.
- Cut 5 pounds of blood oranges into 1/3-inch-thick slices, discarding the ends.
- Juice the rest of the oranges until you get 6 cups of juice.
- Layer blood-orange slices and remaining sugar in a container.
- Pour in blood-orange juice and lemon juice.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, transfer slices and juice to 2 large pans.
- The fruit should be just covered with juice.
- If not, add a little more juice.
- Cover with parchment paper.
- Place over low heat and very slowly bring to a simmer.
- Simmer until the peel is tender, 30 to 60 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put 10 sterilized 8-ounce canning jars and lids on a baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 225 degrees.
- When orange slices are done, remove jars from the oven.
- Add a little cooking syrup to the bottom of a jar, then lay in 3 orange slices and pour in 1 tablespoon of clementine ratafia.
- Fill the jar to the top with more slices and cooking syrup.
- Add another tablespoon of ratafia.
- Clean off the rim and tighten the lid.
- Repeat with the remaining orange slices.
- (Leftover ratafia may be served as an after-dinner drink with a wedge of clementine.)
clementines, vodka, cinnamon, coriander seeds, sugar, oranges, lemon juice
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6998 (may not work)