Candied Lemon, Orange, or Grapefruit Peel
- 8 oranges, or 10 lemons, or 6 grapefruits
- 6 cups sugar, plus more for rolling
- Cut the ends off each piece of fruit, and cut the fruit in half lengthwise.
- Insert the tip of a knife carefully between fruit and pith about 1/2 inch deep, turn the fruit on the other end, and repeat, following the shape of fruit and keeping the skin in one piece.
- Using your fingers, gently pull the fruit away.
- Reserve the fruit for another use.
- Place the citrus peel in a 6-quart pot; fill with enough cold water to cover, about 3 quarts.
- Place over medium heat; bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes.
- Drain the citrus peel; soak in cold water until cool enough to handle, about 5 minutes.
- Using a melon baller, scrape the soft white pith from the peel, being careful not to tear or cut into the skin.
- If youre making candied grapefruit, after scraping the pith from the peel, simmer the peel for 20 minutes more, and repeat the technique to remove the remaining pith.
- Slice each piece of peel into thin strips lengthwise, about 1/4 inch wide if garnishing a cake or 1/2 inch wide if rolling in sugar.
- Place 6 cups sugar in a saucepan with 3 cups water; stir to combine.
- Place the pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the sugar has dissolved and the syrup comes to a boil, about 8 minutes.
- Add the citrus strips to the boiling syrup; reduce heat to medium-low.
- Using a pastry brush dipped in cold water, wash down any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan.
- Simmer the strips until they become translucent and the sugar syrup thickens, about 40 minutes.
- Allow the strips to cool in the syrup for 3 hours or overnight.
- When they have cooled, proceed to step 7, or store the strips in the syrup in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 weeks.
- When cool, remove the strips with a slotted spoon.
- Using your fingers, wipe off the excess syrup; roll the strips in sugar.
- Dry on wire racks.
oranges, sugar
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/candied-lemon-orange-or-grapefruit-peel-393303 (may not work)