Recipe: Golden Orange Blossom Caramel
At FavorFlav, we tend to cook by feel, but with some ingredients you simply have to be extremely sparing. Orange blossom water is one such ingredient, but once you get the hang of it, you can make the most delicious things with it. This golden orange blossom caramel, for example.
A golden caramel made with orange blossom water, generously served over a scoop of ice cream or a chocolate brownie. For some, the orange blossom water almost literally melts in the mouth, while others spontaneously get the chills from it. In short: opinions are divided. The trick is to use the right amount of orange blossom water. And that, dear people, is something you can of course learn very well.
Adding value
My association with the perfumed water hasn’t always been entirely positive either. It reminded me of cheap air freshener. Until I was once served salted couscous with dates and a modest splash of orange blossom water. That’s when I discovered that it can indeed add value to a dish.
A generous splash
By now I’m a convert, and I’m happy to use the distillate, made from thousands of orange tree blossoms, often and generously. It’s delicious, for example, in a traditional cup of Middle Eastern white coffee; simply hot water with a few drops of orange blossom water – good for digestion too. A generous splash in my oatmeal breakfast also makes me very happy in the morning.
Orange blossom caramel
There are plenty of possibilities, but my absolute favorite way to eat it is as caramel; orange blossom caramel! Generously drizzled over a dessert of yogurt and citrus fruits, for example. It can be difficult to find orange blossom water of the right quality, so be sure to ask for advice at Middle Eastern specialty shops. Or try the one from Nadia and Merijn’s Souq: it remains my personal favorite.
Preparation:
1. Put the sugar and water in a small pan and place it over medium heat. Let the sugar caramelize gently without stirring.
2. As soon as the caramel is golden brown, add the salt, turmeric and a small splash of orange blossom water. Note: tempting as it may be, tasting it now is not a good idea #blazinglyhot
3. Mix everything well with a whisk and let it simmer until all the hard pieces of caramel have dissolved again. Add a splash of water if necessary; the caramel is best when it has the consistency of a syrup.
Also read:
