Orange and Saffron Confit
Photography by Aaron McLean.
These luscious orange slices can be used in many ways: atop a crisp pastry tart filled with mascarpone; decorating the top of a cake or served alongside; added to a dried fruit salad; or accompanying chocolate mousse or soufflés. They are also delicious with steamed puddings or simply served over good vanilla ice-cream. This recipe is easily halved but it’s worthwhile making the full recipe as they keep for several weeks in the fridge.
INGREDIENTS
2 large seedless oranges
3 ½ cups water
pinch of saffron threads
2 ½ cups caster sugar
METHOD
Trim the ends off the oranges and discard. Cut into ½ cm thick slices (a mandolin is great for this) and place in a wide saucepan with the water and saffron threads.
Bring to just below boiling point and simmer for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle over the sugar and when the water comes back to a simmer, cook gently for 30 minutes until the liquid is reduced and syrupy and the oranges are glossy with a transparent sheen to them. Try not to stir the oranges too much while they are cooking or they will fall apart.
Cool in the syrup. Transfer the slices to a jar and pour over the syrup. Makes about 30 slices with 2 cups of syrup.
latest issue:
Issue #122
Our latest of dish is an absolute bumper issue, packed with over 70 recipes! We start by chatting with the MasterChef Australia judges and Kiwi contestant Ben Mcdonald before cooking up the very best of what’s in season. Then we make freezer meals easy and delicious with double-batch cooking. Next up we share some of our faves including Pretzel-crumbed Chicken Schnitty and French Onion Soup Mac and Cheese. Then we whip up warming curries, tempting dinners for two, epic sides like our Parmesan-crusted Roasted Potatoes, and crowd pleasers like our cover-star Miso French Onion Chicken. We finish up with irresistible sweet treats and a run-down of top Aussie shiraz!