Zesty blood orange squash flavoured with vanilla for a touch of sophistication. Just look at that colour. Add still or fizzy water, ice if desired and maybe a slug of your favourite alcohol.
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Tis the season for blood oranges. It’s a short one and is generally over by the end of February. Blood oranges have a particularly good flavour, but it’s the startling colour that is so remarkable. I’ve made a fabulous blood orange curd in the past, but I’ve been wanting to expand my bloody repertoire; here comes my recipe for blood orange squash. If that’s not enough to slake your thirst, I also have a nice little giveaway for you.
A Good Zester Makes All The Difference
I was sent a Deiss citrus zester/grater to try out and making this blood orange squash seemed like a good opportunity to do so. I’m not really a gadget geek, but I’ve fallen for this one, hook, line and sinker. It’s super sharp and it made very quick work of zesting the oranges. So far so good. But unlike the old box grater I’ve been using until now, it got all of the orange peel without wasting any of it. A simple tap on the rim of the bowl or pan and most of it falls away from the Deiss. That’s what I call progress.
The zester grates cheese and chocolate as well as citrus. I was advised that pretty much any cheese can easily be grated if it is frozen first. I’ve only tried Parmesan so far and that worked a treat just as it was. It also does a fine job of grating ginger and garlic. It’s made of razor sharp stainless steel and comes with a protective cover. The handle is comfortable and easy to grip, which again is not something that can be said about my old grater. I also find it very easy to clean. I run it under the tap to remove any bits that might be stuck as soon as I’ve finished using it, then wash as normal.
The Deiss zester/grater comes with a lifetime warranty and is dishwasher safe. It can be purchased from Amazon and is currently on offer at £9.98. Deiss is a small kitchenware company and you can find them on both Facebook and Instagram. They are offering three Tin and Thyme readers the chance to win one their zester/graters. Just scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter the giveway.
Unwaxed Citrus
It’s important to give citrus a good scrub, especially if they are not organic or unwaxed. I always try to source organic citrus if I’m going to use the peel in any way. Luckily I managed to get my hands on some organic blood oranges to make this squash. Sadly my oranges weren’t as bloody as I was hoping. I like them best when they are red all the way through. This meant my blood orange squash came out a rather disappointing orange colour rather than red. Luckily the flavour more than made up for this.
Blood Orange Squash
My blood orange squash tastes just like the orange squash I remember from childhood, but so so much better. Well maybe not quite like orange squash because I’ve pimped it up with a hint of vanilla. This marries surprisingly well with the orange and adds sweetness and depth to the flavour as well as a certain air of sophistication. Blood oranges aren’t quite as sweet as many other types yet they have a good flavour. You can use other oranges to make the squash, but you might want to add the juice of a lemon or an extra ½ tsp of citric acid to give it a bit of a tang.
Pour a slug or two into a glass, depending on how strong you like your squash. Add still or fizzy water and ice if desired. Moving on from childhood drinks, blood orange squash lends itself to any number of cocktails. How about adding a shot of tequila over ice for an almost Tequila Sunrise? Your squash will keep in a cool place for several months, although mine has nearly gone already.
Other squash or cordial recipes you might like
- Blackcurrant syrup via The Hedge Combers
- Bramble & vanilla cordial via Farmersgirl Kitchen
- Elderflower cordial via Supper in the Suburbs
- Rose syrup via Tin and Thyme
- Rosehip syrup via Tin and Thyme
For lots more cordial recipe inspiration head over to the cordials and syrups section of my Delicious Drinks board on Pinterest. There you’ll find plenty of both vegan and vegetarian dips and spreads.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this blood orange squash, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or via social media. Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them. For more delicious and nutritious recipes, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Blood Orange Squash. PIN IT.
Blood Orange Squash – The Recipe
Blood Orange Squash
Ingredients
- 200 g golden caster sugar
- 180 ml water
- 5 blood oranges
- ½ vanilla pod
- 1 tsp citric acid
Instructions
- Place the sugar and water over a moderate heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Grate the zest of three of the oranges (I used a Deiss zester for speed and efficiency) and add to the sugar syrup along with the vanilla pod.
- Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the juice of the 5 oranges.
- Allow to cool a little, then add the citric acid and stir.
- Sieve the squash and pour into a clean sterilised glass bottle (or bottles).
Linkies
As I used the Deiss zester, not a bit of peel was wasted. I am, thus, sharing my blood orange squash with the No Waste Food Challenge at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary.
3 Deiss Zester/Graters to Giveaway
Deiss is kindly offering three Tin and Thyme readers a zester/grater. To be in with a chance of winning, please fill in the Gleam widget below. You will need to leave a comment on this post, answering the question, which then gives you additional chances to enter if you so wish. Gleam will pick a winner at random from the entries received who will then be contacted via e-mail. If you are commenting anonymously, please give me some way of identifying you as I will be verifying the validity of entries. Any automated entries will be disqualified. This giveaway is only open to those with a UK postal address. Winners will need to respond within 5 days of being contacted. Failure to do this may result in another winner being picked. There are no cash alternatives.
What a “GRATE” prize! 🙂
childhood – oranges and and bananas were always in our house
Orange always make me think of the fact that nothing rhymes with it. Purple too 🙂
marmarade
Oranges remind me of a visit to Valencia where there were literally heaps of oranges on the side of the roads, apparently these were the ones that were too ripe to go to market, so you could just help yourself to them.
Bottom of my Christmas Stocking
Oranges make me think of Christmas as I remember the ones at the bottom of stockings 🙂
Homemade marmalade
Oranges make me think of sunshine
Always makes me think of my grandma who used peel in her baking and i got to eat the oranges xx
They make me think of holidays in Spain
Summer in Spain!
Oranges make me think of the Summer and holidays abroad enjoying the sunshine!
Would love to try some of these recipes.
Oranges conjure up all sorts of childhood memories: seeing them growing on trees on first holiday abroad, in Santas sack with shiny pennies, tepid squash on a hot day out on our bikes………
oranges make me think of sun
citrus taste in the moth
The sun, bright warm sunlight, and they taste sweet and juicy!
They make me think of orange cordial when I was younger, or orange zest on a freshly baked cake!
They make me think of sitting in the sun with a cocktail that has a slice of orange on the side! A nice summery feeling!
the childrens song oranges and lemons says the bells of st clements
This looks lovely! Will definitely give it a go 🙂
Do let me know how you get on Victoria.
They remind me of when I was young, my mum used to buy huge ones and always had this special orange peeler tool
Our family trip to Florida, where we went to a orange farm – it was fab!
marmalade – helping my Dad cut up loads of oranges which filled the housewith orangey aroma
Marmalade, eating them at break in a hockey match at school, drinking zesty refreshing juice.
Oranges make me think of helping Grandma make marmalade in the 1950s as well as the bottles of orange juice I was given as a child (courtesy of NHS) 🙂
I haven’t seen blood oranges in the shops in ages
They aren’t always that obvious. I’ve been getting mine from Aldi and Riverford.
oranges make me feel refreshed
Oranges make me think of holidays and summer!
Oranges make me think of sunshine
Oranges make me think of Xmas as there was always one or two found in my stocking. I have continued this tradition and put one in my childrens stocking every year
Orange groves in the warm Mediterranean sunshine.
spain. they grow everywhere when we visit there. also christmas. always seem to eat a lot more at christmas.
Oranges always make me think of school when we had oranges at half time.
oranges make me think of sunny weather and holidays in Orlando and the 192 with the giat orange shop
Oranges make me think of the fruit salads my mum used to make when I was a kid.
being refreshed.
They make me think of many years ago when as a child when we could go to the shops on our own, my nan used to give me a few pennies and I used to go to buy an ortanique orange, this was a great treat and I still love all orange citrus fruits
Oranges make me think of my childhood, when I had sleepovers with my grandparents my grandad would always peel me and my nan an orange to share x
I love the smell of oranges. They make me think of summer mornings and fresh squeezed orange juice that we used to (sometimes) have for breakfast when I was a child.
It makes me think of my childhood, my dad always used to have a glass of orange juice with me in the mornings
The smell of oranges reminds me of Christmas, my parents used to buy a big box of oranges every Christmas
Summer days in the garden!
Love blood oranges great recipes
I don’t know what I think of when I think of oranges, but my mouth starts watering!
Oranges make me think of sunshine
Oranges remind me of my grandma he use to have one every morning and when we called around he would have slices waiting for us
the children having to do oranges for christingle
Oranges make me think of Spain always wanted to go when i was small
They make me think of the sun and therefore hot days in summer!
They make me think of standing on the side lines watching my Dad play football when I was young, me & my brother always got some of the half time oranges 😀
Oranges always make me think of my childhood holidays where we would always pick them fresh off the trees
Christmas stockings!
Oranges make me think of refreshing summer drinks of orange juice
Oranges make me think of Orange groves in warmer climes
Sunshine 😀
Holidays! The taste of freshly squeezed oranges fresh from the tree takes me back to a villa holiday in Spain
Oranges remind me of our wonderful family holiday in Florida.
Looks delicious. am definitely going to try this.
seville
Playing sports when I was young as we always had oranges at half time or afterwards
Vitamin C to stop sailors getting scurvy! Always remember that from school lol!
Oranges make me think of sunshine and marmalade on toast
Oranges remind me of being in Florida 🙂
Oranges make me think of Christingles that my children make every year in school.
The recipes look great!
Oranges make me think of marmalade and also the oranges growing along the roadsides in Tucson, Arizona.
breakfast overlooking the sea in sunny spain
The smell of freshly squeezed orange juice – my favourite!
Oranges make me think of Breakfast, I love Orange Juice with breakfast.
Oranges make me think of a special birthday that we spent in Rome and saw oranges growing in the trees around the city.
Oranges remind me of going to my nans as she always made fresh orange juice
Rows of orange trees, the smell is just lovely, clear and fresh
Spain
making marmalade
this looks different
Oranges always remind me of my nana, she always made her own pot puri and used oranges dried slowly in the oven.
Oranges make me think of summer
Visiting the Mediterranean and having freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast
Feeding them to my little girl in Lebanon fresh from the trees.
Oranges make me think of Christmas and in contrast a hot summers day.
Gutted, I haven’t seen any blood oranges this year, and guess I have probably missed them. I love making cordials now I don’t drink and this sounds perfect.
You might still find some if you’re lucky Claire. Aldi have been selling some good ones.
Terry’s chocolate oranges are the first thing that comes to mind. I’m so healthy lol
Oranges make me think of breakfast abroad with ice cold freshly squeezed orange juice.
Oranges make me think of freshly squeezed orange juice on a hot summers day – so refreshing!!
They remind me of summer holidays in cyprus. Alway lots of local oranges for sale. Freshly squeezed orange juice always tastes great
Oranges make me think of sunny beaches
they remind me of summertime and long days
They remind me of the furniture polish my mum used, which always made me want to go and eat an orange!
I adore the smell and taste of oranges. They remind me of my mum as she was always eating them!
they make me think of breakfasts on holiday as I always have some freshly squeezed chilled orange juice
Oranges always remind me of being on holiday in Spain. Seeing all the orange trees by the roadside during the taxi journey from the airport to the hotel. And of course the freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast 🙂
Florida with all the orange trees getting beautiful sunshine
I love oranges remind me of being in Spain the orange groves .
oranges make me think of sunshine, hot sunny days by the pool and drinking refreshing orange juice.
Oranges always make me think of Florida and Sunshine
Oranges remind me of christmas. Having a orange in the bottom of our stocking
Sunny days and sticky juice covered fingers
Oranges remind me of when we were younger making freshly squeezed orange juice for our parents on a Sunday morning
Breakfast
Oranges instantly make me think of sunshine even on the darkest of mornings. To me they are the ‘happiest’ fruit there is.
they make me think of the pain when some juice got into a cut one time!!
Fresh and tangy, juicy, a nice slice in a gin
Oranges tend to make me think of them being a rich source of vitamin C. We are told that they are a healthy fruit for us to eat. Also I think of sunshine as sunshine is needed in order to grow oranges.
Drinking Sangria while on holiday with the family, even the kids got to have a little taste
Oranges always make me think of the big tins of Mamade which my nan used to buy to make her own marmalade. That and football – guess who used to get the job of cutting up the half-time oranges 🙂
Oranges make me think of squeezing and rolling a whole one and then using a straw to drink the juice. You can also buy these sipper things which you can wash and reuse. (Lunchbox idea!)
That’s a fantastic idea and one I’d completely forgotten about.
oranges make me think of a lovely summer day with the family in our garden
They make me think of marmalade! And always having a satsuma or clementine in my stocking at Christmas 🙂
I love to use them in bucks fizz
I love oranges they remind me being at home with my grandma and grandad
Reminds me of Christmas because that’s when my Mum would have always have oranges in the house.
it reminds me of when i was a kid my mum used to make the most amazing orange juice from fresh oranges
Our holiday in Florida, and the freshly squeezed juice we enjoyed.
Oranges make me think of cold. wet days watching my brother play football.
Sports Days, might be showing my age a little here, but when I was little you’d always get an orange on a sports day as a snack.
they remind me of summer or the godfather and marlon brando
The countless glasses of lovely, weak orange squash that fuelled my running around like a lunatic childhood. Ha thanks, now I really fancy some
terry’s chocolate oranges lol
Strangely, Oranges always make me think of summer and Christmas! Summer because I use orange juice a lot in alcoholic drinks that I consume with great enjoyment in the garden whilst soaking up the sun and Christmas because I was shopping one year and was in the scented candle department. I picked up a candle called Spiced Orange and it had a gorgeous scent so I bought it. I light it every year and place in on the table during Christmas lunch.
Sunshine
It will sound crazy but oranges remind me of the summer as i eat so many sitting in the sunshine in the garden during the summer.
Oranges make me think of breakfast, and having a nice freshly squeezed glass of orange.
Oranges make me think of Spain. First place I saw them growing on trees!
Oranges always make me think of nature and make a naturally refreshing drink.
Cold orange juice
They remind me of my grandma because she had a penchant for studded oranges in her wardrobes.
Thanks for the blood orange cordial recipe I’ll have a go at the weekend
Ah oranges studded with cloves brings back memories, I used to make those as presents for everyone when I was a child. Hope you like the recipe. Would love to see a photo and / or hear what you think.
they remind me of a nanny job I had when I was a teenager – I use to have to juice half a dozen oranges every morning for their childrens breakfasts with a hand juicer!!
Oranges make me think of this time of year and lovely mornings in the kitchen making jars of marmalade!
Sunny Monday mornings in the summer eating breakfast in the garden
Oh that colour is glorious Choclette! It would make a wonderful gift. It’s funny as oranges always make me think of sunshine, yet here is blood orange season in chilly February!
It’s just wonderful to have such glorious coloured fruit at this time of year. It would indeed make a good gift and now you’ve put me in mind of it, I might just do that.
I think a teaspoon or two in the bottom of a glass of dry cava would work a treat.
I have a bottle of Champagne we never got around to drinking at Christmas and this thought had crossed my mind.
I love this, have never made squash at home, wouldn’t know where to start but this recipe looks great. Will give it ago.
Yay! Give it a go and let me know what you think 🙂
Christmas… when I was a child we always had oranges for Christmas. I love the tradition of putting oranges in Christmas stockings 🙂
Me too. We still do Christmas stockings, even though everyone is adult now and there is always an orange in the bottom.
has to be simply nice fresh orange juice with a hot cooked breakfast, washes down well
long hot summer says
Blood orange is my favorite citrus!
Citrus is such a great family, I find it hard to pick out a favourite.
Oranges always make me think of the green-skinned oranges that were so popular when I lived in Brunei.
Ooh I’ve heard of green skinned oranges, but never had one.
reminds me of a beautiful holiday in florida with white sandy beached and fresh orange juice x
I love blood oranges, this is such a good idea! I bet the vanilla gives it a great flavour.
Vanilla isn’t an obvious choice to go with oranges, but it works stupendously.
Sunshine
I love blood oranges but have never made squash. Adding the zest to the squash is also a great idea.
So much of the flavour is in the zest and if the oranges are organic, I don’t like to waste them.
Summer in spain!!
Marmalade. My granny always made a huge batch of it every year.
Yes, they make me think of marmalade too and my mother who still makes it every year.
nice refreshing juice drink
Cold summer drinks, jaffa cakes and holidays in Florida
My father – he was Spanish. As a very young child he taught me how to peel an orange in segments. Funny how memories come back to you…
They remind me of sunny days in Spain
Oranges make me think of marmalade on toast
Oranges make me think of Spain – sangria and good food!
They make me think of the orange and almond cake I love to make – a flourless cake using ground almonds and whole oranges that have been boiled (skin and all) before being blitzed in the food processor – it’s so good!
This has been on my list for such a long time. I’ve made a similar cake with chocolate, but not yet without.
they make me think of holidays in Spain – going to the market and buying fresh fruit
They always make me think of being young and on holiday! 🙂
Oranges were a real treat in my childhood! Mum used to cut a hole in the top and push a sugar lump inside for us!!
clementine’s at Christmas and half time at the boys football practise
Buying fruit down our local market with my dad when I was little x
I adore bloody oranges… I bought 3 nets at Aldi recently and I have to say they were the best blood oranges i’ve ever eaten! Never thought to make my own squash, looks genius!
They are very special and made even more so by their short season. I’ve not seen them in Aldi. Thanks for the heads up.
Oranges remind me of sunshine, I have no idea why but its just what I associate with it.
Drinking orange juice in the Florida sunshine with my family and friends
fresh orange juice x
orange juice in thew sunshine
The piles of packets of satsumas at the foodbank this Christmas, destined before for the waste, now used by us
Oranges take me back to when I was much younger and I had an orange each morning, nowadays I never seem to get my hands on them which is a shame.
Oranges make me think of Christmas and also mum making marmalade.
Oranges make me think of the very morish greek orange polenta cake which only lasts one day in my house
Hahaha, that does sound good. I keep meaning to try an orange polenta cake, but have only managed chocolate and rhubarb so far.
Oranges make me think of our family holidays in our Sangria!
Oranges make me think of Xmas day. My parents used to put a couple of them in my pillow case with my toys
orange makes me think of summer
They make me think of nice refreshing times in the garden listening to the cricket commentary
Oranges make me think of refreshing summer fruits
Oranges make me think of marmalade, which I love making and eating with my toasted home-made bread.
Fantastic Prize Finally zesting made easy
Mmm, looks delicious! Oranges remind me of my childhood as I never used to like them. I loved the flavour but didn’t used to like the actual fruit because of the pith!
Oranges make me think of the summer, Spain, and just the smell cheers me up x
My mum – she always used to have an orange after her tea and they always remind me of her now 🙂
Oranges always make me think of Christmas – we always got an orange in our stockings
Energy and optimism
Oranges always remind me of my dad as he always used to eat the big ones and I joined him but he always said I picked the best ones so I picked them for him.
That is one seriously gorgeous looking drink! I have only ever tried fresh blood oranges once, many moons ago while on a whirlwind holiday to Sardinia. I’ve never seen them for sale here in Shetland, but if they do appear I am definitely making this squash! Thank you for sharing with the No Waste Food Challenge too 🙂
Ah yes, I expect you miss out on a few seasonal foods up in Shetland. Luckily you have some compensations 🙂 You could make the squash with ordinary oranges, but it somehow seems a bit more special made with blood ones.
I want this!!!
Summer
Oranges make me think of hot holidays in Portugal and picking them off the trees in the villa gardens.
Ooh, oranges always make me think of summer salads, along with grapefruit. The thing is I eat really similar salads in winter but for some reason never put fruit in them!
Marmalade
Spring, fresh, flavour, refreshing, vibrant, nice smell, revitilising – thank you
Holidays in Spain. Nearly every bar and restaurant in Andalusia has a machine to make freshly squeezed orange juice to order from just picked oranges. Can’t be beaten
The Sun
the smell makes me think of xmas stockings!
Made this and loved it – keep coming with the ideas xx
Wow, that was quick. Glad you liked it and thank you 🙂
Oranges makes me think of a fresh summers day and morning.
Blood oranges remind me of a holiday in Italy. I used to play oboe in a band and we went over to Lake Garda to play
That sounds like a fun trip. I’ve never been to Italy. And how lovely to play the oboe.
Sunny holidays with my family and having a cheeky drink on christmas morning
A warm summers day at the park
Tango
Oranges make me think of christmas. Having a buck fizz on christmas morning
Vitamin C, and thirst quenching are the first things that spring to mind
The first thing that pops into my head is the book “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit”.
Haha, yes good point and a good book too.
Oranges make me think of long Holidays in Hollywood Florida
They make me think of the summer, waking up with freshly squeezed orange juice
Chocolate! Orange is one of my favourite flavours to put with chocolate. And really, I’ve always got chocolate on the brain.
So glad to hear it Laura 🙂
I had no idea how to make squash, thanks so much for sharing. I have some blood oranges and it would be lovely to preserve their flavour a bit longer in this way.
Yes, though mine is disappearing rather faster than I imagined 😉
Summer, energy, happiness. Before Christmas they would have made me think of Christmas, though!
Oranges remind me of Cristingle!
they make me think of summer fruit salad
They make me think of summer 🙂
Holidays in France where it is much easier to get blood oranges and blood orange juice.
They remind me of a freshly squeezed orange juice on a summers day
they make me think of summer
Sunshine and Spain
Summer days 🙂
dried spiced with cinnamon stick reminds me of christmas
Oranges remind me of the old days in a game of football when a tray of cut oranges came out and were offered round at half time.
Oranges make me think of a freshly squeezed drink on a summers day.
Spanish holidays!
Hot summer days
Oranges always make me think of my uncle who has sadly now passed. He used to have an orange every afternoon before playing Ludo with my auntie.
Oh! That’s such a poignant memory. I used to play Ludo with my grandmother many years ago. She’s no longer around either.
Oranges make me think of a warm summers day but sometimes also of winter and mulled wine. I will definitely try this. It’s quite funny really as I was just thinking this morning I want to try orange squash next because we are running low on the raspberry one I made last and then this afternoon I found this recipe in my inbox
It was obviously meant to be Iris, although raspberry squash sounds rather delicious too. Let me know what you think or share a photo if you do make it.
Sunshine happiness and beauty
Freshky squeeze for a delicious breakfast treat
make me think of summer, heat, sunshine
I like to think that it would be marmalade – I love making it, as well as other preserves
Oranges make me think of summer
Oranges make me think of sunny days its like you are eating sunshine.
Oranges make me think of a visit we paid to Seville, where the fruit is left to rot on the ground. It seemed such a waste; when I thought of all the marmalade it could have made
Oranges make me think of marmalade making
Freshly squeezed juice
oranges make me think of summer in Spain
either drinking Sangria on holiday in Spain or having to avoid eating the pips inside when eating!
definitely summertime when its hot and youve been outside and you come in and have some refreshing orange
Oranges makes me think of quenching my thirst, theres nothing like freshly squeezed oranges on a warm summers day
They make me think of summer, heat, sunshine and also Italy because we ate fresh oranges there!
Oranges make me think of summer I love the smell and taste so they also make me think healthy food
Sounds really tasty…and I love the colour!
I was a bit disappointed with the colour Angie, but you’re right. It may not be red enough, but it’s still a nice colour.
My mam’s homemade chocolate orange marble cake which she makes using fresh orange juice and zest!
I absolutely love this squash. We drink a lot of cordials with fizzy water since we stopped drinking as much wine. I’m going to get some blood oranges and make this.
Do Janice, it brightens up these winter days no end 🙂
Oranges remind me of the East Coast of New Zealand, where they grow abundantly.
We never made it to the East Coast when we were in NZ, but we did come across loads of lemons.
Oranges remind me of my mother.Whenever she gave me one she told me she never had one for many years during the Second Worl War.
Oranges always make me think of being pregnant as orange juice was something I craved!
Breakfast
i always think of holidays as i always seem to have a nice cold glass of it on the balcony in the mornings
Long cool refreshing drinks on a hot summers day 🙂 x
Oranges always make me think of my childhood and my Mum cutting them up for me
Deiss Is the Name Grating is The Game!
They make me think of being on holiday in Morocco and buying freshly squeezed orange juice in the street
Can’t wait to try these recipes