Hey, y’all!
I have shared my cooking philosophy many times – and will continue to do so. The secret ingredient to a vast majority of my recipes? Citrus.
Citrus not only compliments many flavor profiles — it elevates them. The differentiating factor between a good dish and a great dish is often the addition of citrus, in my opinion. Apart from that, cooking with citrus has many health benefits. Mandarins, for example, are an excellent source of Vitamin C and a good source of fiber.
My favorite mandarin? Hands down: Sunkist Delite® Mandarins.
Sunkist Delite® Mandarins are perfect for both snacking + crafting delicious meals. Freshly-picked in California, I find them to be consistently sweet and incredibly versatile. They are easy-to-peel and chock-full of juice, which is exactly what I look for when cooking with citrus (or eating, for that matter)!
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Sunkist is a citrus cooperative that has been supporting California growers for over 125 years – since 1893, to be exact. To me, that means that they are a family of farmers that respect and depend on one another, uniting to share that special California-sunshine and high-quality citrus throughout the world. Sunkist believes in the importance of the individual farmer, which is something that I very much relate to, as I have deep roots in the farming industry here in my neck of the woods in Kentucky.
Apart from that, Sunkist is a sustainable brand that recognizes the vitality of Earth-friendly practices for the future of agriculture.
When choosing ingredients that go into my recipes, apart from flavor, these are aspects that I think deeply about. It is with surety that I say that one can – and should! – feel confident in purchasing Sunkist Delite® Mandarins. It’s a high-quality product + a top-tier company.
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This time of year is chock-full of outings, potlucks, and events; at the same time, with all of the hustle and bustle, I try my best to also ensure that I am cooking nutritious meals at home for both myself and my loved ones. In trying to find that balance, I started experimenting with salmon. I wanted something light, fresh, and dynamic — a dish that pays homage both to my Kentucky heritage and boasts the rich flavor profile that I strive for in each of my recipes. At the end of a long day in the kitchen, my Kentucky Bourbon & Sunkist Delite® Mandarin-Glazed Salmon was born.
I chose to prepare 6 pieces of salmon for this recipe, but the amount of marinade that I created could easily accommodate more pieces. Salmon is a great family and crowd-friendly dish, along with being fantastic for personal meal prep.
To make this recipe a little more special for the season of entertaining, I topped each piece of salmon with a homemade Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade. While optional, it really does make the dish exquisite!
Kentucky Bourbon & Sunkist Delite® Mandarin-Glazed Salmon
Ingredients:
Salmon
6 Pieces of Fresh Salmon
3/4 c. Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice
3/4 c. Kentucky Bourbon
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1/2 c. Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
1 Shallot, chopped
1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Ground Ginger
Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade Topping
13-15 Sunkist Delite® Mandarins, peeled and separated into pieces
1 c. Brown Sugar
1/4 c. Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice
2 tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. Cinnamon
Directions:
Salmon
- Combine Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice, Kentucky Bourbon, Brown Sugar, Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce, Chopped Shallot, Garlic Powder, and Ground Ginger. Mix well. Pour into a long, shallow dish.
- Place salmon in the mixture and allow to marinate, covered and refrigerated, for 30 minutes. Flip the salmon one time after 15 minutes for best results.
- Remove from the marinade and grill/cook until the internal temperature reaches 145F. Throughout the cooking process, continuously baste the salmon with the marinade for optimal flavor.
- Top with homemade Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Marmalade + fresh Sunkist Delite® Mandarin zest.
- Enjoy!
Caramelized Sunkist Mandarin Marmalade Topping
- Peel 13-15 Sunkist Delite® Mandarins and separate each section.
- Over medium heat, add butter to your skillet, allowing it to coat the entire cooking service.
- After butter is melted, add the Sunkist Delite® Mandarins and allow them to soften and cook for around 10-15 minutes.
- Add Freshly-Squeezed Sunkist Delite® Mandarin Juice, Brown Sugar, and Cinnamon. Mix well & cook for an additional 15 minutes (or until the topping has reached your desired consistency).
- Enjoy!
Sunkist Delite® Mandarins are readily available at your local grocery stores; as for me (and for my readers that are similarly located) I found them at my local Kroger!
The holidays are about spending time with those that you love most — and this recipe, elevated by the flavor of Sunkist Delite® Mandarins, will be the talk of the season.
As always: Happy Eating, Happy Traveling, Happy Living.
Y’all come back now, ya hear?
My best,
JC
FTC: This post was kindly sponsored by Sunkist Delite® Mandarins; all opinions expressed, as always, are my own.
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