Chef Valerie Aikman-Smith and food photographer Victoria Pearson join forces in Citrus: Sweet & Savory Sun-Kissed Recipes. The result is a celebration of citrus in all its forms, common and exotic alike. (Readers who live in citrus-challenged climates may be frustrated by their inability to get yuzu, bergamot oranges or finger limes--or might be inspired to move.)
The photographs are gorgeous. The 75 recipes are clearly written and enticing, drawn from the citrus-rich cuisines of the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and southern California. Many, like mandarin meringue pie or linguine with clams and lime, are twists on the familiar. Others, like citrus crisps, are unexpected. Some of the most interesting recipes are for beverages and condiments, such as orange bitters, citrus oil and citrus salts. Aiken-Smith includes tips on buying and storing citrus as well as preferred techniques for zesting, juicing, peeling and segmenting fruits.
Citrus will appeal to cooks who want to brighten their winter cooking with a shot of sunshine. --Pamela Toler, blogging at History in the Margins