I'm wondering if any of my fellow foodies have tried these? I bought a bag at Whole Foods on Sunday and love them; sort of a cross between a ruby red grapefruit and an orange - yummy!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
Starting last week, my grocery store has freshly squeezed blood red orange juice available. They must only be seasonally available because they seem to come and go. I just love it, as it tastes less acidic than regular orange juice. It never occurred to me (duh) that they must sell the oranges too. Now I'll have to look for them.
They are in season, from California, and available, right now!
They are a deep pinkish orange, not to be confused with red navels, which I don't like as much. They can be really sweet, but so far, the ones I have been using have been a bit more acidic.
Even more exciting are Page Mandarins. Oh my! They are a seedless mandarin orange (not a tangerine, don't get them confused) and sweet like sugar. Like sugar.
Stella, where do you go to get produce? I was thinking of taking a trip into Union Square but didn't know if anything would actually be there this time of year.
I go to Union Square a lot, but not from January to maybe March. Spring through fall, I am there two or three times a week. There is always good stuff there, but right now you will find apples from cold storage, root vegetables, and greens that are grown in hothouses (still quite nice). The greenmarket at Union Square also has wonderful vendors that sell meats, fish, cheeses, breads, dairy products, flowers and plants.
Specialty produce, such as that which is available to restaurants, usually winds up at upscale markets like Whole Foods. But sometimes these things make their way into supermarkets too. I am always shocked to find exotic mushrooms like hedgehogs and hen of the woods, at my local Key Food in Brooklyn.
This is wierd. Yesterday, I was reading a Jan. 2005 Food & Wine magazine (I am in the really reading and pitching mode) and read something about these oranges. Went to the recycling bag and yanked out the mag. Here is a recipe that sounds good...and now I will have to try and find those oranges and the mandarins at my grocery. (As much as I like clementines, they are starting not to be so good anymore.)
(Pause while Sandra hunts for reading glasses)
Mixed Citrus and Arugula Salad 4 servings
2 navel oranges 2 tangerines 2 clementines (Cara Caras would be a good sub for either) 1 large shallot, sliced paper thin 3T. chopped mint 1T. fresh lime juice 1T. walnut oil 1T. creme fraiche or sour cream 2 bunches arugula (1/2# each, trimmed S&P
1. Peel citrus and remove bitter white pith. Slice clems crosswise 1/2" thick & remove pits. Put clems in bowl. Working over bowl, cut between membranes of oranges and tangs, releasing sections to bowl. Add shallots and mint.
2. In large bowl, whisk lime juice, oil, and creme fraiche. Add arugula, S&P, and toss gently. Transfer arugula to plates. Add citrus to remaining dressing, season with S&P, and toss to coat. Top arugula with fruit.
Salad can be prepared through Step 1 and refrigerated for 2 hrs.
Sounds yummy! I am now cutting out that recipe.
Sandra
Posts: 799 | Location: Near Chicago, IL | Registered: 03 May 2004
That sounds delicious! I was just thinking about a salad with blood oranges and arugula, so I may adapt this one. I MUCH prefer good dark blood oranges to Cara Caras and eat them every way I can while they're in season.
Originally posted by MarionP: Are Cara Cara blood red oranges?
Starting last week, my grocery store has freshly squeezed blood red orange juice available. They must only be seasonally available because they seem to come and go. I just love it, as it tastes less acidic than regular orange juice. It never occurred to me (duh) that they must sell the oranges too. Now I'll have to look for them.
Blood Oranges are also called Moro Oranges. I do believe they are only available in December- February. I love them also. In Italy I love the Red Orange Juice. It seems I was buying that product in the summer.
Posts: 657 | Location: Palmyra, NJ, USA | Registered: 29 July 2003
This was the first year I'd ever seen these available in our local grocery store. My husband loves them but they're a little too tart for my taste. Love blood orange juice when I'm in Italy - also the bottled apricot nectar.
Posts: 780 | Location: Birch Bay, WA | Registered: 02 December 2002
Today's LA Times has a good article on mandarin oranges (registration required). There is a brief mention of the Page variety. I'm hoping they make it up to the NW. Right now, I have a box of clemintines that I need to use up. Hmmm... maybe that arugula salad might be good. Any other suggestions for using clemintines?
I just bought a couple of Cara Cara oranges in my local supermarket (Kings). So I look forward to tasting them. My local Whole Foods (possibly the smallest market in the chain) did not have them. Kings also had blood oranges, but one person can only eat so many.
M
Posts: 6944 | Location: Montclair, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 March 2003
Someone my sister works with brought her a few of the Cara Cara oranges...because her name is Cara! She said they were delicious. Alas, she didn't share with me.
Originally posted by Marian: I saw this am that even my local Shoprite has Cara Cara oranges, so they must be the latest thing. M
Also at Shaws (Star Markets) in Connecticut: 4 oranges for $3.49; not as pricey as the huge navel orange, which are currently 99 cents each. So, are they worth trying?
I had one yesterday, and it was yummy. My daughter tried it and took the other one home. I'll buy more today, but stick with King's rather than Shoprite. Partly because their fruit is generally better, partly because I've already been to Shoprite this week.
M
Posts: 6944 | Location: Montclair, NJ, USA | Registered: 16 March 2003
Originally posted by Marian: ... blood oranges, but one person can only eat so many.
We love blood oranges, but my thirteen yr old appears to be allergic : rash all over his face when he eats one (or has juice containing part blood orange juice). Anyone ever heard of that reaction?
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