Two aromas have always mesmerized me: the smell of earth after rain and the smell of a peeling orange. Orange rind is the colored part of the orange and it releases the beautiful aroma when the orange is peeled. The instant smell is because of the essential oils present in the rind. The taste is sweet and a little tart.
It gives off a dessert or a main dish the citrus and flavorful taste. You can use the rind for decorating cakes or puddings. Furthermore, you can add a part of peel in the brown sugar to prevent its hardening. If you are looking for some suitable orange rind substitutes, then you are at the right place.
Orange rind imparts a strong flavor and enhances the taste of a dish. The outer orange peel is more nutritious than the inner pulpy area. It has more fiber than the inner part. The peel is rich in Vitamin C and other nutrients. It can benefit the heart, digestive system, lungs, eyes, and teeth. Orange has been used extensively for centuries for boosting skin health.
Orange Rind Substitute
1) Lemon peel
The thick lemon rind makes it a perfect replacement for the orange rind. The lemon zest has a strong citrus flavor but is not very bitter. The citrus part of the taste is highly intense. It is highly nutritious as well due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. The zest comprises essential oils that prevent lemon from drying.
The flavor imparted by lemon zest is similar to orange rind. Thus, this makes it an ideal candidate for desserts. If you are making a stew that requires orange rind, put lemon peel to compensate for it. You can use the lemon peel in meat dishes and with roasted vegetables.
Orange rind is substituted on a 1:1 basis by the lemon peel. So, you can freely add the lemon peel in dishes that call for the orange rind.
2) Grapefruit peel
The name of grapefruit leaves my mouth tasting bitter. Although rich in nutrients and a unique taste, grapefruit is not everyone’s favorite. However, if you do not like its sour and bitter taste, you can still use the outer peel as an alternative to the orange rind.
Grapefruit’s peel is not as bitter as the fruit itself. The inner part is highly sour and bitter, but the peel is comparatively stable. So, the taste is like the orange rind. You can use the peel in a candied form. You can add the grapefruit flavor to marmalades too. Some meat dishes call for citrus flavor and grapefruit peel is a good item to add that flavor.
Ever heard of dried grapefruit peel? Yes, these dried-out peels are perfect with black tea.
These natural gems are nutrition-rich. Grapefruit peels contain pectin that helps lower cholesterol and control diabetes. Furthermore, it has countless vitamins and minerals that show unique characteristics. So, the nutritional and health benefits are pretty much alike to orange rind.
3) Orange juice
In cakes, if your recipe calls for the orange rind, then you can also add orange extract. It will add the necessary flavor you need. Make sure to keep the acidity balanced out as too much acidity can kill the yeast in dough. Hence, orange juice can substitute orange rind in a dessert or a main dish.
4) Tangerine peel
This fruit comes from the orange family. Rich in Vitamin C, tangerine is less sour and sweeter than oranges. Nevertheless, the original citrus flavor is the same for all types of fruits. Hence, you can replace orange rind with this sweeter peel. This peel has health benefits in diseases like asthma, cancer, digestive problems, and bowel syndrome.
We would always recommend you use the required ingredient. However, if a particular situation asks for an orange rind substitute, do not hesitate to try out these options. The citrus flavor of the orange rind is present in other fruits having the same flavor.
Thus, you can add them to your recipe. Orange juice is a good option in dishes where orange flavor cannot be replaced. The health benefits of all these fruits are high. Let’s be grateful while using these natural wonders that have been bestowed upon us.