The Best Way To Eat Seasonal Citrus

It’s Cara Cara Navel Orange season! Say what you will about the gloom of winter, but it’s hard to be gloomy when you are cutting into a bright sweet piece of seasonal citrus. This is just one of the many reasons why I believe in eating seasonally, but am not willing to sacrifice myself at the altar of local food.

So there I was yesterday with one of these glorious pieces of fruit when Little Miss Fussy came home from school, and I thought I would make her a special treat.

I break out the cutting board. First I slice the top and bottom sections of skin from the fruit, so it can stand upright and I can see the segments of citrus within. Then I take my knife and cut the skin off in thick strips from top to bottom, turning the fruit as I go. Once all the skin is off, working over a bowl, I run the knife down each side of the membrane to remove pristine segments of fruit.

Over my shoulder, I ask Little Miss Fussy if she knows what I’m doing.

“You’re supreming an orange” she says gleefully.
“You’re not supposed to know that!” I shoot back.

My God, what have I done!

For what it’s worth, this is easier than you might think. Here’s a quick video to brighten a snowy and gray Tuesday. And it’s as peaceful and meditative as I find the task of supreming an orange.