Sunkist Citrus Brings Authentic Asian Flavor to the Table

18/12/07 Indigenous to Asia, most types of citrus, from mandarins to pummelos, lemons to tangerines, are commonplace within recipes throughout countries in South, Southeast and East Asia. Today, as interest in Asian culture grows, Sunkist, a leading international citrus supplier, wants you to know how easy it is incorporate the authentic flavors of these fascinating cuisines into your own recipes with the introduction of the Flavors of Asia Wheel.

Similar to Sunkist’s Citrus Flavor Wheel, which allows users to easily understand the unique qualities of 17 varieties of citrus, the Sunkist Flavors of Asia Wheel highlights the incorporation of these citrus varieties into both classic and contemporary recipes from the South and Southeast Asian countries of India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam as well as the recipes of East Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan.

Developed by Chef Robert Danhi, Sunkist’s chef-partner and an expert in the cuisines of Asia, the wheel explores classic dishes “that are authentic to the areas of South, Southeast and East Asia—some of which are traditional and some of which are part of the country’s cultural arsenal of recipes that have been used for ages,” explains Chef Danhi. “The contemporary recipes that are highlighted,” he adds, “draw on the classic use of citrus, but are applied to build dishes and beverages that fit right into today’s homes and foodservice establishments.” The Sunkist Flavors of Asia Wheel demonstrates how easy it is to take Asian recipes to another level with the inclusion of citrus.

Here’s a taste:

* Chinese Contemporary: Combine tangerine or orange peels with rice, brown sugar and tea to infuse meat or seafood with a fresh citrus flavor. Enclose the mixture in a foil pouch with the protein and place directly on a charcoal or gas grill.
* Korean Classic: Shred Mandarin orange segments and cover with sugar to macerate. Add water to create a traditional cold drink known as Hwachae. Garnish with pine nuts or a touch of minced orange rind to offset the sweetness.
* Indian Contemporary: For a savory relish, combine seeded lime segments with olive oil, toasted mustard seeds, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and chopped cilantro. Serve with chips or flatbread.
* Vietnamese Classic: Top crispy prawn crackers with a combination of pummelo pieces, lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, minced red chilies, carrots and rau ram herb (Vietnamese coriander) for a flavorful appetizer. Garnish with peanuts and fried shallots.

The authentic ingredients used in the various types of Asian cuisine are typically found locally and are known for being fresh and flavorful, as well as healthy. As the West incorporates Asian culture in daily life—from business and technology to art and literature—it is to our advantage to infuse these flavor influences into our own recipes to heighten our culinary expectations. Visit foodservice.sunkist.com to request a free Sunkist Flavors of Asia Wheel and begin incorporating these wonderful flavors into your own recipes.