“The blood orange is a variety of orange (Citrus sinensis) with crimson, blood-coloured flesh. The fruit ranges from small- to medium-sized; its skin can be pitted or smooth. Blood oranges owe their distinctive appearance to a pigment called anthocyanin not typically found in citrus, but common in other red fruits and flowers. Not only is the inside of the orange darkly pigmented, but depending on the variety, the outside may feature dark washes of red. The exact reasons for the unusual inside colour are unknown. However, it seems that light, temperature and variety are important contributors.
There are three types of blood oranges, the Tarocco (native to Italy), the Sanguinello (native to Spain), and the Moro, which is the newest of the three and is grown in San Diego, California. The Tarocco is a medium-sized fruit and is perhaps the sweetest and most flavourful of the three types. However, its internal reddish color is unreliable. The Sanguinello, discovered in Spain in 1929, has a reddish skin, few seeds, and a sweet and tender flesh. The Moro, a recent introduction into the blood orange family, is the most colorful of the three types, with a deep purple flesh and reddish orange rind. This fruit has a sweet flavour with a hint of raspberry. Blood oranges cultivated in the United States are in season from December to March (Texas), and from November to May (California).” (Wikipedia)
I am sad that the blood orange season is ending. So I decided to make one more dessert this season to celebrate this lovely orange. I fell in love with this orange a few years ago because of its juicy, sweet and less acidic interior, as well as its amazingly beautiful colour. But really it is the taste that I have grown fond of, and I think that it is a wonderful orange for desserts. The dessert that I have composed is built around Martha’s blood orange gelato. The gelato sits on a pound cake, which includes blood orange zest, and is accompanied by segments of orange and a blood orange jelly. The flavours blended easily to create a casual and comforting ode to the blood orange.