What is it?
Orange flower water, which is made by distilling the orange blossoms rather than the fruit itself, has a seductively floral (rather than citrusy) aroma.
Straight from the bottle, orange flower water is extremely potent, but it mellows once it’s mixed with other ingredients. It is mainly used for baking, but is also popular in traditional Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. Though not traditional, orange flower water also has inspiration within the French and Mexican cultures as well.
Orange flower water can sometimes be used to sweeten cocktails, the most famous being the Ramos Gin Fizz.
How to choose:
Look for orange flower water in specialty markets, gourmet shops, and Middle Eastern grocers.
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Recipe
Sweet Chicken Tagine with Apricots and Caramelized Walnuts
This tagine is a perfect example of the sweet chicken tagines of Fez, a glorious blend of sweet and savory, with the apricots’ chewy texture and sweet-tart flavor offsetting the…
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Recipe
Spanish Olive Oil Tortas with Orange-Blossom Water and Aniseed
Those Spanish tortas de aceite—crisp, orange-anise-flavored olive oil crackers handmade in Seville—have become a common sight in many upscale grocery stores. The tortas come individually wrapped in wax paper in…
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Recipe
Orange and Grated Radish Salad with Orange Flower Water
Please don’t dress the grated radishes too far in advance, or they will lose their texture.
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Recipe
Orange and Hazelnut Cake with Orange Flower Syrup
This is a wheat-free cake, very light and fluffy, soaked in a zesty syrup. Cakes are not as popular as filo pastries in the Eastern Mediterranean, but this is a…
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Recipe
Pan de Muerto
In the Mexican tradition, this sweet, buttery bread is a fixture at Day of the Dead celebrations. Serve the sugar-topped loaves with Mexican Hot Chocolate or coffee for dipping. Watch an audio…
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Recipe
Fresh Fig Tart with Orange Flower Custard
Arrange the figs in concentric circles or jumble them on helter-skelter. If you can't find orange flower water, substitute 1 teaspoon orange zest.
Comments
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Comments
The A. Monteux brand here is no longer made. Are there any other brands anyone would recommend?
I had Hot Chocolate made with orange blossom/flower water once and it was amazing. Anyone have a Hot Chocolate recipe made with this ingredient they'd be willing to share?
Thanks!