Healthy citrus peels. Description of orange zest with photo, its calorie content; how to make at home; use of the product in cooking; harm and beneficial properties What is orange and lemon zest

Do you like oranges? Then you should know that, in addition to the fruits themselves, their peel is no less useful). This product is used in various areas. Fragrant crusts are used in cosmetology, medicine and cooking. In this article we will talk about how to create delicious and very healthy dishes from orange peel.

Useful properties of the product

The benefits of orange peels have been well studied since ancient times. The zest contains phytoncides that were used to treat wounds. Nowadays it is known that eating this product has a beneficial effect on the condition of the entire body. Orange peels normalize cholesterol levels in the blood, relieve swelling, heal the heart and blood vessels, eliminate and alleviate women's condition during painful periods. All this happens because the zest contains a lot of useful substances: calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C, A, P, B1, B2 and beta-keratins.

Orange varieties

Korok is passed down by many housewives from generation to generation. The main secret to preparing the dish is choosing the right fruits. Only thick-skinned oranges are suitable for jam, since they contain a large amount of zest. You can use Italian kings - a variety that is medium in size and has a reddish skin. Unfortunately, these fruits are not very popular in our country. Jaffa oranges are also praised. However, they are grown only in Palestine and Israel; they are quite difficult to find in Russia. For lack of a better one, you can choose other thick-skinned oranges. Delicious recipes with photos will help you make aromatic jam from them.

Orange zest jam. Ingredients

Cooking this delicacy is very simple. To prepare it you only need three ingredients:

granulated sugar - 1 kilogram;
orange peels - 1 kilogram;
citric acid (to taste).

Making orange zest jam

First you need to collect the accumulated orange peels. Every diligent housewife can easily find use for this product in the kitchen.
Then the crusts must be placed in a large container, filled with water and put on fire.
Next, you need to bring the product to a boil, let it cook for ten to fifteen minutes and drain the water. This procedure should be repeated three more times to get rid of the bitterness in the orange peels.
Now the zest needs to be cooled and weighed. The fact is that the amount of sugar that needs to be put in the jam depends on the weight of the orange peels. Usually products are taken in a 1:1 ratio.
After this, the crusts should be scrolled through a meat grinder, add sugar to the resulting mass and cook for about forty minutes. At the end of cooking, you can add citric acid.
Next, you need to put the finished treat into sterile jars and roll up the lids.

This recipe uses only sugar and orange peels. The use of this product in cooking is almost always associated with the preparation of desserts. You can make wonderful candied fruits from orange zest. Moreover, the composition of the necessary products will be the same as when making jam. The recipe for creating candied fruits will be outlined below.

Ingredients for making candied fruits

In order to please ourselves and our loved ones with this delicacy, we will need:

citric acid - 2-3 grams;
orange zest - 1 kilogram;
water - 450 milliliters;
sugar (for syrup) - 1.8 kilograms;
sugar (for decoration) - 1.5 cups.

Candied fruit. Cooking method

First of all, you need to remove the bitterness from fresh orange peels. To do this, they need to be kept in cold water for four days. In this case, the liquid needs to be changed two to three times a day.
Then the orange peels must be cooked over moderate heat for ten to fifteen minutes. After this, they need to be thrown into a colander, slightly dried and cut into neat slices.
Next, place the orange peels in an enamel basin or other large container.
After this, you need to prepare the syrup. To do this, place sugar in water and cook until completely dissolved. Then the syrup should be filtered and poured over the orange peels.
Now you can prepare the candied orange peel. The recipe says that they need to be cooked in three stages. The first two should last ten minutes. In this case, the crusts should be kept on low heat until boiling, then soaked in syrup for ten hours.
At the very end of the third cooking, you need to add citric acid to the candied fruits and boil them to the desired thickness. The process will take approximately 20-25 minutes.
Now you need to drain the orange peels, boiled until fully cooked, in a colander. They will not be used anytime soon: first you need to let the candied fruits stand for one hour until the syrup completely drains, and then dry them for a day at room temperature.
After this, the crusts should be rolled in sugar and kept in the open air for another day.

Candied fruits are ready! They should be stored at room temperature in a closed container. The process of creating this dessert is quite labor-intensive. However, it is better to make candied fruits at home than to buy them in the store. Delicious recipes with photos will help even a novice cook quickly master the cooking process.

Preparing the tincture

To create this alcoholic drink you need the following products:

water - 350 milliliters;
vodka - 0.5 liters;
sugar - 120 grams;
zest of one orange.

Tincture. Cooking process

First you need to mix water and sugar and cook the syrup over low heat for ten minutes. After this, the product should be cooled. You should get approximately 250-300 grams of viscous liquid.
Next, you need to thoroughly rinse the orange peels. The use of zest can be found quite quickly, but it must be remembered that manufacturers often apply a special preservative to its surface that enhances the fruit. You can get rid of this substance by rinsing the crusts under hot running water.
Now you should mix sugar syrup and vodka and pour the resulting mixture into a container with peel.
After this, the jar should be closed with a lid and placed in a warm place for about five days. First, the zest will gather at the top, just under the neck of the jar. Then, after a couple of days, it will swell and begin to gradually sink to the bottom, and the liquid in the container will turn yellow.
After the specified period, the jar must be opened, the vodka strained and bottled for long-term storage.
Now the aromatic orange peel tincture is ready. It should have a strength of 27-32 degrees with a characteristic fruity smell and taste. The shelf life of the drink in a basement is 12-15 months.

As you can see, under no circumstances should you throw away orange peels. There will always be a use for them. By spending a little time, you can create real culinary masterpieces from orange peel that will be appreciated by all members of your family. Bon appetit!

You can hear a lot of interesting information about the beneficial and harmful properties of orange peel. It is used as an adjuvant in folk medicine in the treatment of certain diseases, as well as in cooking - as a spice in the preparation of various dishes. However, eating large amounts of zest can cause serious harm to the human body.

What does it represent?

Zest is usually called the bright orange peel of an orange, which has a pleasant, slightly tart aroma. The structure of the skin contains small pores with a large amount of essential oils, which provide an unforgettable citrus smell. The taste of orange zest is bitter-sweet, sometimes slightly cloying.

Under the bright orange layer there is a thin white skin. This layer is practically not used in cooking and folk medicine, as it has a bitter taste.

Benefits and harms

Orange peel has many beneficial properties and we can talk about them for a long time, but there is not much to say about harmful ones. Since the harm lies in the body’s allergic reaction when eating the zest. In addition, you should not consume orange peel in unlimited quantities. Perhaps the harmful properties of the zest ended there.

Now let's look at the beneficial properties of orange peel.

Many people use orange zest as an aid in the treatment of certain diseases. The zest contains a huge amount of useful substances that help the body mobilize hidden capabilities and promote rapid recovery.
To lower blood cholesterol levels, it is often recommended to use orange peel. It contains very effective substances - flavonoids and antioxidants. Due to the content of a large amount of these elements, the zest perfectly cleanses the blood of various harmful substances, helps reduce the risk of exacerbation of hypertension, the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke.
Thanks to certain alkaline compounds, orange peel is an excellent remedy for heartburn, lowering the level of acidity in the human stomach. The best option for using zest in this case is to add it to tea or smoothies. This will help maintain the acid-base balance at the proper level. If you have problems with the digestive system, you should pay special attention to orange zest. By consuming it regularly, you can significantly alleviate the symptoms, and in the future, cure the disease.

Orange zest is great for treating various intestinal problems. According to scientists, orange peel contains fiber that is necessary and beneficial for the digestive system, which helps the functioning of not only the stomach, but also the intestines. Systematic consumption of zest will ensure proper absorption of food and help improve intestinal function.
It's no secret that citrus fruits contain a large amount of vitamin C, but most of all it is in the peel. In the treatment of various colds, orange peel is a reliable and proven assistant. Regular consumption of orange zest will help strengthen your immune system. Various beneficial substances contained in the peel help slow down the reproduction of various viruses and bacteria in the human body, strengthen protection and increase resistance to diseases. The peel is especially useful in the autumn and winter, as a prevention of various diseases.
Orange peel helps to significantly improve the condition of a person's teeth. This is due to the presence of essential oils in the zest, which increases resistance to the harmful effects of dental plaque. Many dentists advise people with tooth sensitivity to chew orange peel regularly. This helps eliminate pain symptoms, reduces tooth sensitivity, provides fresh breath, significantly reduces the number of bacteria, and helps get rid of yellow plaque.

Regular consumption of orange peel helps cleanse the body, which leads to weight loss. This is due to the fiber content in the peel. The zest should be consumed in the form of infusions, as well as adding it to various dishes.
Gentle skin care. By regularly rubbing your skin with a properly prepared infusion of orange peel, you can significantly reduce the number of acne, sun spots, various burns, and so on. This is due to the large amount of vitamin C in the peel. In addition, orange peel will help eliminate some of the signs of skin aging.
For respiratory infectious diseases, be sure to eat an orange, and also inhale the aroma of its skin. Orange peel, spread throughout the room, absorbs unpleasant odors and also fights germs.
Essential oil squeezed from the skin of an orange not only actively stimulates the immune system, but also has a calming effect on a person, helping to combat insomnia and stress.

How to cook?

Orange peel is a valuable universal component that is used not only in folk medicine, but also in cooking in the preparation of various dishes, for example, chocolate, cakes, rolls, ice cream, and so on. Any housewife who practices baking and various desserts knows perfectly well how to properly prepare orange zest, remove the natural bitterness and stock up on this healthy product.

Initially, you need to thoroughly wash the citrus fruits. This is very important, since fruits are often treated with special chemical compounds for longer storage, which must be thoroughly rinsed off. Therefore, first you should rinse the fruits under running water. Then rub each fruit thoroughly in warm water using a sponge. This will help remove impurities and harmful substances from the peel.

To remove the peel, you will need an ordinary kitchen knife, only a very sharp one, or a fine grater or vegetable peeler. It is necessary to remove the top bright orange layer of the peel from the fruit. You should carefully rub the citrus or cut off the peel with a knife. The resulting large pieces of peel must be thoroughly chopped.

A very simple way to store orange peel in reserve is dried zest. The most suitable for this harvesting method are large pieces of peel, cut with a knife or vegetable peeler. When grated on a fine grater, most of the essential oils contained in the peel are lost. Therefore, in order to preserve the bright orange aroma, you should use the first method of peeling citrus.

Next, the pieces of peel must be placed in an even layer on a clean, dry cloth or paper napkin, covered with a cloth and left to dry for several days. You need to carefully turn the peels over every day. This is necessary for uniform drying of the zest.

After the peel becomes dry and brittle, it needs to be crushed using a regular coffee grinder into a fine powder. Then carefully pour the chopped zest into a clean, dry container and seal tightly with a lid. If necessary, remove the required amount of zest from the jar and close it tightly with the lid again.

An excellent option for storing orange peels for future use is candiing. To do this, you will need granulated sugar and finely grated orange zest in a ratio of two to one. In a clean, dry container, thoroughly mix the necessary ingredients in these proportions. Next, the resulting mixture should be carefully transferred to a jar, shake well again and seal tightly. It is necessary to store the container with candied zest in a cool place, for example, in the refrigerator.

Children especially like this option for preparing orange peel. The delicacy is tasty, sweet and very healthy.

Use in cooking

It is difficult to imagine the process of preparing numerous dishes without adding aromatic orange zest, especially for desserts and chocolate. Cakes and rolls, pastries and muffins, pies and cookies – the list of delicate, delicious pastries with the addition of zest can be continued endlessly. It gives dishes a special refined and original taste, and favorably emphasizes the taste qualities of the products used for cooking.

Many chefs use the peel of aromatic citrus fruits as a spice when preparing not only baked goods and desserts, but also adding it to fish and meat dishes. In addition, this fragrant spice is also successfully used to prepare various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Experienced cooks and housewives make aromatic, tasty preserves, jams and confitures from citrus peels.

In the early morning, a cup of aromatic tea or coffee with the addition of a small amount of orange zest will help you get a boost of energy and strength. It gives drinks a special subtle and unique aroma and significantly enhances their tonic properties. You can also surprise your guests with this drink.

Cosmetology

Orange peels are also successfully used in cosmetology. It is used as an additional component in the manufacture of various masks, scrubs for the face and body. The beneficial substances contained in the peel of citrus fruits have a beneficial effect on the skin, help smooth out fine wrinkles, refresh the color, and significantly improve the condition of the skin. You can prepare cosmetics with the addition of orange zest yourself, at home, or purchase them at specialized retail outlets.

Regularly taking a bath with citrus zest will not only help relieve stress, but will also have a beneficial, tonic effect on the skin. To do this, you need to dry and grind the citrus peel into powder, then add a little olive oil and leave the mixture to stand for a while. After about an hour, the resulting oil should be poured into water and you can take a bath. To carry out a one-time procedure, you will need the zest of three oranges.

It is necessary to note other, no less useful properties of citrus peels. Experienced and zealous housewives have found another use for orange peels in everyday life: they use the zest to repel various insects. In addition, citrus peels will help get rid of plaque on metal products and parts, as well as prevent the appearance of foreign odors in household appliances.

The taste and beneficial properties of orange zest are undeniable, and preparing a healthy product that will take care of the health and beauty of the body with your own hands at home is not so difficult; anyone, even an inexperienced housewife, can handle it. From all of the above, the conclusion suggests itself - before throwing an orange peel in the trash, you need to think a thousand times.

For tips on using orange peel, see below.

Most often, housewives throw away orange zest; they can sometimes use it to make candied fruits. But this is a thoughtless waste of a valuable ingredient that will help solve a lot of everyday problems.

The peel contains fiber, which increases performance, lowers cholesterol, and reduces the likelihood of gallstones. Another benefit of orange zest is its ability to fight colds, this feature is given to it by the vitamin C it contains. In addition, it contains vitamin A, which is responsible for the appearance of the skin, healing damage to the dermis, and neutralizing toxic compounds.

For overweight people, the product is optimal for regular use. The benefit of orange zest for them is the absence of calories and fat. In addition, the peel does not contain sugar and sodium, but is rich in pectin, which restores the intestinal microflora and prevents pathogenic formations.

Zest is popularly considered a product that heals the heart; this opinion has good reason. The benefits of orange zest depend on the flavonoids it contains, which neutralize excess cholesterol, stimulate cardiac activity, in addition, the substances have anti-inflammatory properties.

The disadvantages of the peel are mainly determined by its bitter taste. It is recommended to add it to baked goods in limited quantities. Orange zest can also be harmful if a person is allergic to citrus fruits. Its use may cause irritation and rashes on the skin.

Doctors note that orange peel is harmful for people with high acidity and low blood pressure. Patients with stomach ulcers and other esophageal disorders should absolutely not eat dishes with added peel.

It is worth limiting the consumption of treats to patients with duodenal dysfunction. In addition, there is harm to orange peel for people with intestinal disorders, on the mucous membrane of which the product has an irritating effect.

The benefits and harms of orange zest, according to experts, are in no way inferior to the pulp of the fruit itself. Simply soaking the peel in water helps to easily replenish calcium and vitamin C deficiency. This means adding it to dishes helps boost immunity and helps maintain bone tissue in normal condition.

1. Cooking with zest

There are many recipes that call for citrus zest. Orange peel contains so many aromatic substances that it can and should be added to a variety of dishes - from sauces to sweets. It goes well with both meat and fish.

2. Remove the zest

When preparing a variety of homemade cleaning products based on vinegar, you should first infuse it with orange zest. Then it will lose its strong vinegar aroma.

3. Refresh with zest

No store-bought fragrances or air fresheners are needed. All you have to do is boil water, add orange zest, cinnamon and cloves, and the house will be filled with pleasant aromas. In addition, this method of refreshing the house also helps to increase the humidity in it, which is especially important in winter.

4. We drive away cats

If you need to discourage a cat, for example, from your favorite indoor flower, you need to place an orange peel around the pot. Cats cannot be called big fans of citrus scents.

5. Bringing beauty

If you grate an orange peel and add it to a body scrub mixture, you will get an amazing aromatic cosmetic product that no store-bought product can compare with.

6. Make a fire

Orange peel is incredibly flammable, making it great for starting a fire.

7. Scent the trash can

If you throw orange peels at the bottom of the trash can, even it will have a pleasant aroma.

8. Repelling insects

Orange peel can repel insects. Firstly, it will help drive away house ants if you place it in places where insects accumulate. And secondly, you can get rid of mosquitoes by rubbing your skin with orange peels.

Recipes with orange zest

1. Petit fours with orange zest

Pour 100 g of flour, a pinch of salt into a clay dish, add 2 eggs, a glass of cream skimmed from boiled milk, 2 tbsp. spoons of sugar and grated orange zest from 2 oranges. At the end, add 2 egg whites, whipped into a strong foam, and knead the dough. Cover the dough with a napkin, leave it for 10 minutes, then place it in small molds and place in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes. When the petit fours have cooled, sprinkle them with powdered sugar.

2. Nougat with orange peels

In a bowl, place 100 g of crushed almonds, hazelnuts or peanuts, the peel of 2 oranges, cut into small cubes, 150 g of sugar, 100 g of honey and a full spoon of water. Place the dish on the fire and cook the mixture, stirring continuously, until a thick mass is obtained. After this, place the mass in an even layer on a greased board or shallow plate, cool and cut into square pieces with a sharp knife moistened with water.

3. Recipe for cookies with orange zest

Knead the dough from 200 g of flour, 2 eggs, 1-2 tablespoons of water, a pinch of salt and grated zest from 2 oranges. Roll out the dough into a layer about 0.5 cm thick, cut out cookies of different shapes and fry in boiling oil until golden brown. Sprinkle the finished cookies with powdered sugar.

4. Candies with zest

Pour 150 g of sugar into a saucepan, add a spoonful of water, grated zest from 1 orange, place the saucepan on the fire and bring the mixture to a boil. Place the resulting caramel mass in an even layer on a greased board or shallow plate and, without allowing it to cool completely, cut it into small candy pieces with a sharp knife dipped in water.

5. Orange milk - recipe

Place half the peel from one orange in a saucepan, pour in 1/2 liter of boiling milk and leave on the edge of the stove for about 10 minutes. Then strain the milk, add sugar to taste and drink hot. It is recommended to drink orange milk when you have a cold.

6. Orange peel decoction

Pour a glass of boiling water over the peel removed from one orange, cover the dish with a tight lid and leave for 10 minutes. Then strain, sweeten and drink instead of tea. When preparing a decoction of medicinal herbs, also add a few orange peels. The broth will turn out tastier and more enjoyable.

7. Orange syrup

Cut the peel from 3 oranges into a porcelain bowl, add 500 g of sugar and leave for two days. Then pour a liter of water, put it on the fire, let the zaki sing, strain and bottle it.

* If you add a little cognac to the syrup, you will get a pleasant-tasting “single-alcohol” drink. You will have the same tasty drink if you add a full spoon of orange juice to a glass of red wine.

Many young housewives, unknowingly, simply get rid of the orange peels left after eating the fruits themselves. And it’s completely in vain, because you can prepare a lot of tasty and healthy dishes from them. In today's publication you will find several interesting recipes with citrus zest.

The benefits and harms of using orange peel

Recipes with citrus zest allow you to fill the human body with many valuable vitamins and microelements. This product contains a sufficient amount of pectin, flavonoids, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and E. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for the treatment and prevention of colds.

Regular consumption of orange peel helps increase performance, lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of gallstones. Citrus peels have excellent wound-healing properties, neutralize toxic substances and help restore intestinal microflora. They stimulate the activity of the cardiovascular system and have a beneficial effect on the condition of hair and skin.

However, there are also contraindications. Those who are interested in where to use orange and tangerine peels need to remember that the zest of these citrus fruits can cause severe allergic reactions, provoke the appearance of a rash, irritation of the mucous membranes and even an increase in temperature. They should not be consumed by people suffering from intestinal disorders. Citrus peel is contraindicated for low blood pressure and high acidity.

Review of ways to use orange peels

This component is widely used in cooking. It is used to prepare preserves, jams, candied fruits, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. In addition, they are often replaced with artificial flavors. Along with cinnamon and vanilla, it is added to muffins, biscuits, charlottes, jellies, mousses and other desserts. Some housewives put this ingredient in sauces, soups, salads, meat and fish dishes.

With citrus zest, you can not only cook various delicacies, but also do cleaning. After all, it is an excellent basis for creating homemade cleaning products. Plus, it is considered an excellent replacement for store-bought air fresheners. To fill your home with pleasant aromas, you just need to boil water and add cloves, cinnamon and crushed orange peel.

Few people know that this is one of the most effective means of repelling cats. If your pet gets into the habit of spoiling indoor plants, then you can simply put a little citrus zest around the flowerpot.

These are not all the ways to use orange peel. It is one of the most popular cosmetic components. And some people scatter it to get rid of mosquitoes and house ants. Having figured out where and how citrus zest is used, you can begin to consider culinary recipes.

Cookie

This delicious and aromatic dessert will surely be appreciated by both big and small sweet tooths. This recipe for using orange peels requires the presence of additional components. Therefore, before you start playing it, check if you have at hand:

200 grams of premium baking flour.
Chopped zest from two oranges.
2 eggs.
A couple of spoons of water.
A pinch of salt.
Powdered sugar (for sprinkling).
Vegetable oil.

In one container combine eggs, zest, water, salt and flour. Mix everything thoroughly until smooth, and then roll it out into a thin layer and cut out cookies. The resulting products are browned in boiling vegetable oil and generously sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Cream jelly

We recommend paying attention to another simple recipe for using dried orange peels. It will certainly interest lovers of homemade mousse-like desserts. To make this jelly, you will need:

100 grams of chopped zest.
3 large spoons of sugar.
A glass of cream.
2 large spoons of milk.
5 grams of gelatin.
A teaspoon of coffee.

Warm milk is combined with whipped, sweetened cream. Chopped citrus zest, coffee and pre-soaked gelatin are also added there. Mix everything thoroughly and put it in the refrigerator until completely frozen.

Fragrant tea

This option for using orange peels will arouse interest among connoisseurs of unusual hot drinks. Tea prepared in this way is not only very tasty, but also extremely healthy. To brew it you will need:

Large orange.
A teaspoon of black tea leaves.
300 milliliters of drinking water.
Honey or sugar (to taste).

Carefully remove the peel from the washed orange, pour boiling water over it and leave for ten minutes. Then the liquid is drained, and the zest is placed in a saucepan filled with a small amount of clean water and brought to a boil. The resulting infusion is added to pre-brewed tea and mixed with sugar or natural honey.

Lemonade

This refreshing, sweet drink is perfect for a hot summer day. To prepare it you will need:

4 glasses of clean water.
6 medium oranges.
2 cups sugar.

Carefully remove the skin from thoroughly washed oranges and grind it in a blender. Then the zest is added to two glasses of boiling sweet water and simmered over low heat for five minutes. The resulting drink is cooled and put in the refrigerator. After some time, the remaining water and juice squeezed from six oranges are poured into the almost finished lemonade.

Jam

This option for using orange peels will be useful for thrifty housewives who are accustomed to making homemade canned food. To create this jam you will need:

400 grams of sugar.
2.0-2.5 glasses of water.
400 grams of orange peel.

Practical part

Pre-washed skins are cut into not too large pieces, filled with cold water and left for three days, periodically changing the liquid. After the designated time has passed, the peels are cut into small squares and placed in a suitable container. Syrup made from water and sugar is also added there. All this is sent to the stove and boiled for no longer than five minutes. After the future jam has completely cooled, the heating procedure is repeated twice more. The finished product is packaged in sterile jars, closed with screw caps and stored.

How to make a tincture?

This option for using orange peels will certainly be of interest to lovers of homemade alcohol. The drink prepared in this way is moderately strong and very aromatic. To make this tincture, you will need:

A liter of homemade moonshine.
250 grams of sugar.
Skins from two oranges.
700 milliliters of water.

You need to start the process by obtaining syrup. It is brewed from filtered water and sweet sand. The completely cooled syrup is poured into a jar, at the bottom of which there is already washed citrus peel. Moonshine is also sent there. Cover all this with a lid, shake vigorously and put it in a dark place, not forgetting to shake the container periodically. No earlier than five or seven days later, the drink is filtered through cheesecloth and bottled.

Candied fruit

Lovers of natural sweets will certainly come in handy with another simple way to use orange peels. Candied fruits prepared in this way will not leave anyone with a sweet tooth, big or small, indifferent. To create them you will need:

200 milliliters of water.
2.5 cups sugar.
8 medium oranges.
100 grams of dark chocolate.
¼ teaspoon citric acid.

Carefully remove the skin from carefully washed oranges, cut them into approximately equal long strips, fill them with cold water and leave for three days, taking the time to systematically change the liquid. This is necessary to remove all the bitterness. Then the zest is boiled for ten minutes and rinsed under the tap. The crusts prepared in this way are poured with syrup consisting of water and sugar and simmered over low heat. After some time, citric acid is added to the boiled mixture and heated until all the syrup is absorbed into the zest.

Then the hot skins are carefully placed on parchment, being careful not to get burned, and kept at room temperature for two or three hours. Completely dried candied fruits are dipped one by one in melted chocolate and returned to the paper. As soon as the finished candies have cooled, they are placed in a glass, hermetically sealed jar. Since this delicacy does not contain any harmful additives, you can safely treat even little sweet tooths to it.

The zest, that is, the outer layer of the peel - usually of a lemon or orange, less often of other citrus fruits - is used quite often in cooking. Pies and desserts, fish and meat dishes, vegetables and cocktails - the taste of all this zest, when used wisely, can greatly enhance the taste and create a new dimension. But there are a couple of subtleties that are worth knowing if you are going to use the zest as a seasoning.

If you are unlucky enough to be born in a small house on the seashore with windows overlooking a lemon garden, you will not be able to grow lemons and will have to buy them. Those fruits that are sold in markets and supermarkets are treated with various substances- first with chemicals against pests, then with wax for extra shine. No, of course, if you bought super-eco-organic-ultra-biological lemons, there is hope that there were no chemicals and paraffin, otherwise all this deliciousness risks ending up on your plate. This means that the fruit needs to be washed thoroughly, ideally with a brush, and then doused with boiling water.

Secondly, when grating the zest, only the top, “colored” layer should be removed - it is this layer that contains all the aromatic substances, which are the whole point of the culinary use of the zest. But in no case do we need the white layer that is contained immediately below it: it will only add bitterness to the dish.

Finally, to grate the zest, you should select citrus fruits with thin and even skin, and grate them on a fine grater, or, if the recipe requires it, remove strips of zest with a knife or a special grater that allows you to do this. In this case, we continue to remember - we don’t need the white part of the zest!

That, in fact, is the whole trick. You already knew all this, right? In this case, I can’t help but touch on the beneficial properties of the zest. As you might guess, there is more than enough goodness in it: there is practically no fat and salt in the zest, but there is also enough vitamin B6, and most importantly, the zest is a real storehouse of vitamin C. 6 grams of lemon zest added to baked goods provides 13% of the body’s daily need for this useful vitamin.

Needless to say, zest, like citrus fruits in general, is the most important thing in winter if you don’t want to suffer from a runny nose and fever. There couldn't be a better time to try my favorite recipes using zest.