Content area
Full text
Distinct, delicious and amazingly versatile ... and it's unusual for a flavor powerhouse to be so powerfully good for you too
Every year around the holidays, my youngest stepson asks, "Are clementines in season yet?" The juicy little citrus is his favorite seasonal treat; he can polish off a crateful in just a few days. His dad always packs several in his school lunch during the winter months.
It's fitting that clementines come into the marketplace (usually from Spain) at holiday time, for they're much like a gift: beautifully packaged, easy to open and a pleasure to eat. Another plus: Like all citrus, they're low in calories (about 35) and rich in vitamin C. Clementines, by the way, are in the Mandarin orange family, which also includes tangerines. While clementines are just as easy to peel and break into sections as tangerines are, they're somewhat smaller and tend to be sweeter and juicier.
In the kitchen, clementines can be substituted in recipes calling for oranges or tangerines, but since they can be sweeter than both, you may need to add a squirt of lemon or lime juice for extra acidity. Also, their juice can be less intense than OJ, so if you're improvising, be sure to taste as you cook.
Though they're delicious eaten out of hand, clementines can be used in numerous other ways, a real boon for the adventurous cook. Combine them with tomatoes, white onions and cilantro, and a tangy-sweet salsa is the happy result.
Clementines also have a natural affinity for sweet potatoes, as you'll taste in our soothing sweet potato bisque. And don't miss the Italian-inspired fennel salad, dressed in a clementine vinaigrette. Try it as a starter or as a side dish for hearty bean soups or stews. Make our spicy clementine stir-fry the excuse to celebrate Chinese New Year. (It's on February 9 this year, the year of the rooster.) Finally, there's the clementine pie-think Key lime but more seductive. It's a terrific finish to any meal.
Of course, if you're on the go-like my stepson-a couple of fresh clementines are all you need for dessert.
1
CLEMENTINE-LIME PIE
Serves 8
Reminiscent of the beloved Key lime pie of Florida fame, this version has a subtle citrusy...