I introduce citrus, the final blog on our journey into acids. Lemons are a staple in my kitchen for Mediterranean cooking. I enjoy cooking with citrus; it's my acid of choice since lemon and tomato are the most forgiving fruits. Consider Jon Favreau's pork roast in the film, Chef, where limes and sour oranges, a citrus mojo, becomes the base marinade to help the protein soften. Cuba's mojo stems from Spain. There's some chatter that mojo's origin is the Canary Islands. Mojo lovers use it as a condiment or a marinade and cut it with lots of fresh garlic. I didn't know about mojo until recently when I enjoyed my time experiencing mojo with my boyfriend's mother. She made it for Christmas dinner with her roasted pork and black beans. The only thing different was she used vinegar instead of citrus. However, it did the trick! Soooo delicious! Give it a try!
Grapefruits and lime go great with shellfish like fish, lobster, and shrimp since lime on fish- or meat tacos sharpen the flavors and help cut through the fats. Lemon juice on greens, salad dressings, and atop spicy dishes is a creative salt substitute when reducing sodium intake in daily diets.
Chef's Note:
Citrus and vinegar are completely different in flavor, but carry the same qualities of sour and acid. When it comes to them which should I choose? Do I use them both? or one or the other? So, here's my tip, if you want something to cut through, sharp tasting you would go straight to citrus. Vinegar helps elevate by giving the dish some depth, since vinegar is more acidic than lemon it can sometimes make the dish sweet, dry, and tart. To use both is something you need sometimes to help carry the dish through. Balance is key, and sometimes you need to add an invert sugar or an aged/seasoned vinegar to the recipe.
What's the best thing to make with citrus? Dessert! The sourness makes your mouth pucker when you sink your teeth into a citrus cake, a key lime pie, or a lemon tart. Are you looking to make lemon curd or a custardy lime filling? Meyer lemons are my go-to since they are sweeter than standard lemons, and let's not forget, my second favorite, key limes. You can find key limes in Latin grocery stores or bodegas. They are delicious, try them, you won't be disappointed!
* The key lime is on the left and Persian lime on the right.
Share some of your favorite citrus desserts. I'd love to hear about them.