Food Facts: Kumquats

January 22, 2014 - Chef Aaron Guerra,CEC, CDM, CFPP | This month, with winter set in many people forget the wonderful foods we can switch our attention to. Right now, Kumquats are in full swing and are a great substitution for some citrus fruits for marmalade or simply in winter salads. They are available from November to March. Look for firm fruit without blemishes. Refrigerate wrapped in a plastic bag for up to a month. Kumquats contain good amounts of potassium and vitamins A and C.

Kumquat {Kuhm kwaht} This pigmy of the citrus family looks like a tiny oval or round orange. It’s cultivated in China, Japan, and the United States. The edible golden orange rind is sweet, while the rather dry flesh is very tart. The entire fruit-skin and flesh-is eaten, and very ripe fruit can be sliced and served raw in salads, or as a garnish. The kumquat is more likely to be found cooked, either candied or pickled whole or in preserves or marmalades.

Enjoy this great variation of the citrus family and let it bring out your creativity.

BON APETTIT!