You’ve probably come across orange blossom water if you’re an avid baker. As the name implies, orange blossom water is a product of distilling the liquid from the flowers of bitter orange trees. It is a typical Middle Eastern ingredient.
Orange Blossom Water is a sugar-free additive that provides flavour in baking, cooking, and cocktail mixing. Although it seems mild, orange blossom water is a potent liquid that needs to be added to food/drinks in moderation because of its intense citrus flavour.
When you’re all out of orange blossom water, there are a few alternatives you can use instead.
Our 3 Substitutes for Orange Blossom Water
Orange blossom water has a potent flavour that distinguishes it from other cooking flavours. It gives a deceptively mild citrus fragrance but has a strong taste.
It is made by soaking cups of orange blossoms in distilled water.
Here are our top 3 orange blossom water substitutes:
1) Orange-Flavoured Alcohol
Orange flavoured liquor works as a suitable alternative to blossom water because of its long lifespan and mild flavour. Twice the amount of liquor is required per serving of orange blossom water. However, orange liquor might be a good alternative, but it isn’t a child-friendly option.
It is excellent for salad dressings, baking, creams, and sauces. The taste of orange liquor is not as long-lasting as orange blossom water. It is suitable for puddings and soft foods.
How to Select Orange-Flavoured Alcohol
Selecting good orange alcohol depends on a few factors. The most important one is the ingredients of the chosen alcohol and its suitability for that particular recipe. This can be based on the alcohol content, the type of liquor being used, or even the scent.
2) Orange Zest
Zest is the hard outer layer of the orange fruit usually thrown away. However, it not only contains all the nutrients in the actual orange fruit, but it is also a suitable ingredient for baking, salads, spicing meals, puddings, etc.
Orange zest is an excellent alternative to orange blossom water because of its high orange flavour concentration.
Orange Zest has a more potent citrus flavour than the orange blossom water, with a quarter spoon of zest amounting to a full spoonful of orange blossom water.
Zest can either be used when dry or utilized from fresh fruit to avoid food waste when you are preparing meals.
How to Prepare Orange Zest
You can prepare orange zest from fresh orange peels or dried orange peels. The easiest way to prepare orange zest is to dry the peels and grind them to a powder. This powder can be refrigerated (stored) for later use. You can grind it to a paste for fresh orange zest that you can add in small amounts to your recipe.
3) Orange Oil
Orange oil is an extract from the skin of orange that has anti-carcinogenic properties and is also a good source of pain relief. Orange oil has a high citrus flavour content making it an even more potent option than the orange blossom water.
You can add trace amounts of orange oil (a few drops) to food and liquid diets. This is because orange oil is very sweet, and when consumed excessively, it can lead to nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
You can make your own orange oil at home if you want to save yourself a little money or want to pick up a new skill.
Simply, dry the orange peels for a few days to remove water. Then after ensuring that the peels are dry, you can then fill half the jar with vodka or dry gin. Then, you soak the orange peels in the alcohol, seal it airtight, and shake the mixture daily for three to five days.
Finally, filter out the zest with a sieve or strainer. Place a handkerchief, filter paper, or tissue over the jar to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Once done, you will have orange oil.
Is Orange Oil Healthy?
Orange oil is rich in vitamin C, providing over 80% of the daily requirements for your body, which is, of course, a great bonus for any food.
Other Substitutes for Orange Blossom Water
If you are not a fan of orange at all but you are using a recipe that requires it, there are some other flavoured extracts you can use instead:
- Lemon Extract – Lemon extract is a sharper tasting alternative, so you will only need a little to maintain the flavour balance of your dish.
- Cherry Extract – Cherry extract has loads of health benefits and a pleasant taste that can enhance meals.
Summary
Orange blossom water is a beautiful way to touch things up with your food and cocktails. But when it is unavailable, there are plenty of ways to harness that distinct orange flavour, such as with range oil.