Nutritional information,  Sweet

Spicy Oranges in Armagnac and Happy Christmas!

Spicy oranges in Armagnac

Wishing you all ‘Bonnes Fêtes’, a very Happy Christmas.

I am sure one thing we all have in common, wherever we are, is that we will be very glad to see the back of this absolute shitfest of a year.

This orange-based dessert is simple and cheering (probably due to its generous quantity of Armagnac!), and bursting with Christmassy flavours.

Oranges contain, not only vitamin C, but also hesperidin, a citrus fruit flavonoid. It has recently been discovered that hesperidin can prevent replication of the Covid-19 virus in the body; just one of nature’s glut of pathogen and virus-fighting alternatives…

Recipe for spicy oranges in Armagnac (serves 4)

  • 4 large dessert oranges, peeled and sliced
  • 100ml Brandy, Cognac or Armagnac
  • ½ teaspoon freshly-grated ginger
  • 5 cardamon pods, crushed, shells removed
  • 1 stick licorice
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 5 star anise
  • 75g sugar

Arrange the orange slices in a frying pain or saucepan. Add the other ingredients plus a little water and bring to a simmer over a low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

Don’t cook for longer than a few minutes, or the alcohol will evaporate and the vitamin C degrade, and you wouldn’t want either of those things to happen this year!

7 Comments

  • KJ

    Joyeux Noël, HE, and I hope you are staying safe and warm. Citrus fruits do not agree with me, though I do go a bit over the top for a fresh lemon or lime on occasion, and I use them in beverages. However, your suggestion about hesperidin caught my attention. I would be interested to learn more about this unknown benefit.

  • kristenann

    Merry Christmas! I had to look up Armagnac b/c I’d never heard of it. Looks like there’s a hot debate on what’s better~ Cognac or Armagnac. I might need to do some taste testing this week! Love the recipe~ excellent way to get nature’s many anti-virals in!

      • kristenann

        We have restrictions and they are begging people not to get together with anyone outside their household, but it isn’t really enforceable. Seems most people are taking the recommendations seriously but of course not all are. How are things over there? I hope you enjoy your day too!

        • The Healthy Epicurean

          We’re limited to 6 people max and we have a strict 8pm curfew every night. My mother wasn’t able to come from London where there is a new superspreading strain. We had a good day – too much to eat as usual… What about you?

          • kristenann

            Ah yes, I’ve been hearing about that new strand in England. Such a shame. We had a nice morning and actually successfully video called my parents so that was a treat. The boys went to their Dad’s now so I guess it’s time for me to clean a bit and especially need to put away some of these sweets before I eat them all myself! 🎄

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