Also Known as
Santra, Narangi
What are Oranges, Santra, Narangi
Juicy and sweet, and renowned for its concentration of vitamin C, orange is a wonderful snack and a great ingredient, which contributes a special tang to any recipe it is added to. One of the most popular fruits in the world, different variants of oranges are available from winter through summer.
Oranges are round citrus fruits with finely-textured skins that are, of course, orange in colour just like their pulpy flesh. The skin can vary in thickness from very thin to very thick. Oranges usually range from approximately two to three inches in diameter. The skin might wrap the fruit loosely or tightly, colloquially known as loose-jacket and tight-skinned varieties. The loose-skinned orange is very popular in India.
Chopped orange
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Peel the orange and discard the peels. Remove the white pith that surrounds it and discard it. Hold the orange in the palm of one hand and the knife in the other hand. Carefully loosen and separate out the orange segments. You can do so using your fingers itself or use a knife. Now with a sharp knife peel the thin skin of each orange segment gently, taking care that the segment does not break and no juice oozes out. Discard this thin peel too. Remove and discard the seeds too. Line up the segments and cut them into small pieces to get chopped orange.
Orange cubes
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Peel the orange and discard the peels. Remove the white pith that surrounds it and discard it. Hold the orange in the palm of one hand and the knife in the other hand. Carefully loosen and separate out the orange segments. You can do so using your fingers itself or use a knife. Now with a sharp knife peel the thin skin of each orange segment gently, taking care that the segment does not break and no juice oozes out. Discard this thin peel too. Remove and discard the seeds too. Line up the segments and cut them into 2 to 3 pieces depending on the recipe requirement to get orange cubes.
Orange segments
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Peel the orange and discard the peels. Remove the white pith that surrounds it and discard it. Hold the orange in the palm of one hand and the knife in the other hand. Carefully loosen and separate out the orange segments. You can do so using your fingers itself or use a knife. Now with a sharp knife peel the thin skin of each orange segment gently, taking care that the segment does not break and no juice oozes out. Discard this thin peel too. Remove and discard the seeds too. Orange segments add a delightful and refreshing taste to salads. It is ideal to garnish cakes, custards and desserts. They may also be relished just plain, as a snack.
How to Select Oranges
• Choose oranges that are unblemished and heavy for their size.
• Avoid those with cuts, soft spots or mould.
• Bright colour is not necessarily an indication of quality as some poor quality ones may be dyed, while some good oranges might naturally be green-tinged even when ripe. So, simply look for bright, unblemished skin unmindful of the colour.
• You should avoid light-weight oranges, which probably lack much of their flesh content and juice.
• A spongy texture usually indicates aging and poor quality.
• Also avoid any oranges that look decayed or discoloured near the stem.
Culinary uses of Oranges, Santra, Narangi in Indian cooking
Most salads are light on the stomach and bursting with flavours that will amaze you. Below are some delectable salad recipes using oranges that you must try!
• Orange segments can be had just plain, as a snack, or added to fruit salads.
• Orange jam and marmalades are great on breads and best for glazing cakes and puddings.
• Use oranges as a colourful, sweet accent in green salads for a touch of class.
• They can also be used as a topping for desserts and ice-cream.
• Orange tastes heavenly when combined with chocolate. Orange segments can be dipped in chocolate sauce and frozen, to make a mouth-watering dessert.
• Orange segments, slices or chunks are sometimes even added to savoury salads.
How to Store Oranges
• Oranges that are not yet fully ripe should be stored in an open tray in a cool, dry place.
• Once the fruits are ripe, they can be stored in the fridge to enhance their shelf life.
It is better to store oranges loose, rather than wrapped in plastic bags because they may sweat and develop mould.
Health Benefits of Oranges, Santra, Narangi
• Orange is a rich source of Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, Sulphur and Chlorine.
• It contains beta carotene and vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant guarding our cells.
• Vitamin C also helps to absorb calcium, which is important for the health of bones and teeth.
• Our brain needs folic acid for proper development, and this is found in oranges!
• Blood pressure can be kept in balance with the magnesium found in oranges.
• The potassium present in oranges helps to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system and to maintain the electrolyte balance of cells.
Nutrition Information for Oranges
Nutritional Information for 1 no. of Citrus fruit
One no.of Citrus Fruit is 106 grams.
RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.
50 Calories
0.75 grams of Protein
11.55 grams of Carbs
0.21 grams of Fat
31.80 mg Vitamin C = 79.5% of RDA (about 40 mg)
1170.24 mcg of Vitamin A = 24.38% of RDA (about 4800 mcg)
18.02 mcg of Folic Acid = 9.01% of RDA (about 200 mcg)
0.07 mg of Vitamin B1, Thiamine = 5.38% of RDA (about 1.2 to 1.5 mg)
1.16 grams of Fibre = 4.64% of RDA (about 25 grams)
27.56 mg of Calcium (Ca) = 4.59% of RDA (about 600 mg)
21.2 mg of Phosphorus (P) = 3.53% of RDA (about 600 mg)
2.65 mcg of Vitamin K = 2.20% of RDA (about 120 mcg)
0.04 mg of Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine = 2.0% of RDA (about 2 mg)
9.54 mg of Magnesium (Mg) = 2.72% of RDA (about 350 mg)
0.30 mg of Vitamin B3, Niacin = 2.5% of RDA (about 12 mg)
0.33 mg of Iron (Fe) = 1.57% of RDA (about 21 mg)
0.02 mg of Vitamin B2, Riboflavin = 1.81% of RDA (about 1.1 mg)
0.21 mg Vitamin E = 1.05% of RDA (about 20 mg)
0.10 mg of Zinc (Zn) = 0.90% of RDA (about 10 to 12 mg)
4.77 mg of Sodium (Na) = 0.25% of RDA (about 1902 mg)
9.85 mg of Potassium (K) = 0.20% of RDA (about 4,700 mg)