Sunday 31 January 2010

Vin d'Orange [off challenge]


We are in full swing with the Seville Orange season. I shall make marmalade next weekend, but in the meantime, we have knocked up a batch of Vin d'Orange to sit and mature in the fridge. If you have never had this delectable drink, you really haven't lived. It is so easy - the hardest part is getting a big enough container in which to steep the ingredients. The recipe we used, adapted from Sally Clarke's eponymous book (and served in her wonderful restaurant as an aperitif) is as follows:
2 seville oranges, washed and sliced
1/2 lemon, washed and sliced
200g caster sugar
vanilla pod, split
cinnamon stick, broken
1 litre good rose wine, preferably a Provencal one
200ml cognac
50ml white rum

Wash a large kilner jar or similar - probably a 2-litre or 2x1 litre container and sterilise in an oven - or put through a hot dishwasher cycle.

Put everything in the jar, or divide equally between two jars. Stir well with a clean metal spoon and then seal with the lid. Store in the fridge for 6-8 weeks, shaking from time to time (the jars, not you, although feel free to shake yourself if wanted).

Then, strain through a coffee filter or muslin-lined funnel into sterilised bottles (we have been saving suitable screw-top wine bottles and liqueur bottles with corks for a while), seal and keep in a dark place. It can be drunk straight after bottling, or will just keep getting better in the bottle. Serve chilled, over ice, with an orange twist. Total heaven, but quite alcoholic!

I shall post a picture of it when it is all nice and filtered and ready to drink.

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