How to counteract too much orange zest? (5 ways)
In this brief guide, we will answer the question, “How to counteract too much orange zest?”. We will further elaborate on different ways to help you counteract too much orange zest in a recipe.
How to counteract too much orange zest?
To counteract too much orange zest, you can:
- Physically remove the orange zest
- Add some salt
- Add sweet-smelling vegetables and herbs
- Add honey
- Add potato to absorb the excess flavor
Different ways to counteract too much orange zest
Orange zest is the colorful outer covering of the orange which discharges flavourful oils with a small scrap of peel. It is mostly added in desserts, gravies, and meat recipes to enhance flavor. Dried orange peels are also sprinkled as a topping.
However, if you add too much orange zest, it can ruin your dish by imparting a strong tangy flavor.
If you have gone overboard with orange zest, and are hopelessly trying to explore ways to counteract it, don’t get in a fluster, here we have shared five different ways to help you counteract too much orange zest in your recipe. These methods will surely help you to make your dish appropriate to serve.
Try the following tricks to counteract too much orange zest.
Physically remove the orange zest
Orange zest can be used in many different preparations including desserts and gravies.
In many dishes, where the dried orange peels are used, you can easily remove the excess dried peels just when you have realized your blunder before they can release all of their flavors.
However, this approach will not benefit if you have added powdered orange zest.
If the orange zest has blended well in your recipe by the time you realize your blunder, you will then have to implement any of the other tricks we have shared but you must first try to remove it.
Add some salt
If you realize that you have added too much orange zest to your recipe when tasting the meal and you haven’t lost the option of cooking the dish any further to change its consistency, try counteracting the excess orange zest flavor by adding water and salt and then cooking it for some more time.
Around 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt can work to reduce the tangy flavor of orange zest. You can use pure table salt or sea salt. This will dilute the flavor of too much orange zest from your dish making the consistency perfect. Salt can also be combined with sugar to further increase the effect.
Add sweet-smelling vegetables and herbs
Garlic and onions work well to decrease the excess orange zest flavor.
Onions are a good option as their sweet and savory flavor is a perfect counterpart to that of orange zest.
Cut one medium-sized onion for every one and a half quarter of the gravy. Cook them lightly in oil or butter till they get soft and slightly golden. Add minced garlic later, mixing it just till it is sweet-smelling.
Herbs can also improve the flavor of the dish. Among the herbs, basil, oregano or red pepper flakes are very good options.
These sweet-smelling vegetables and herbs would not change the flavor of orange zest but will make it milder in comparison.
Add honey
Sweeteners can work really well to offset the bitterness caused by too much orange zest in your recipe. These will not directly lower the bitterness but will give a different flavor that will help to distract the taste buds with the complexity of flavors.
For instance, too much orange zest in a dessert can be counteracted by adding a teaspoonful of sugar or honey.
Mix well after adding a sweetener, letting the flavors blend thoroughly. Be sure to add one spoon at a time tasting after every addition or your dish will have a sweeter taste.
Add potato to absorb the excess flavor
Potatoes include starch with a mild flavor and are specifically great at absorbing strong flavors. A peeled and boiled half-cut potato can be added in gravy to counterbalance the bitter taste of too much orange zest.
Put the half-boiled potato into the dish that will absorb the excess flavors of the orange zest from the dish.
Take the potato out once tender and serve your meal without any worry.
We hope these approaches will help you save your dish. Still, if nothing goes well, forget it. Learn your lesson and you may start again.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have provided an answer to the question, “How to counteract too much orange zest?”. We have further elaborated on different ways to help you counteract too much orange zest in a recipe.
