Ugli fruit is high in vitamin C and fiber, and at less than 40 calories per slice, it makes a great light snack for anyone on a low-calorie diet. Although the appearance of this fruit is unattractive on the outside, the inside contains a fruit that tastes sweet and sour. This fruit can be enjoyed raw and just as it is, or you can add it to other dishes.
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Part 1 of 4: Selecting and Preparing Ugli Fruits
Step 1. Know when and where to search
Ugli fruit is only available from December to April, and you may need to go to a specialty grocery store to find this fruit.
- The ugli fruit is actually another name for the Jamaican tangelo. This fruit was found in Jamaica and became one of the country's export fruits from 1914.
- While this fruit is imported into the United States, supplies are very limited, so it can be expensive. On average, this fruit costs two or three times the price of a grapefruit.
- Check out stores in your area that are known for their wide variety of international goods, including imported ones. Many standard grocery stores don't sell ugli fruit, and local farmer's shops almost never sell them.
Step 2. Choose a fruit that feels heavy for its size
You can't tell how ripe an ugli fruit is just by looking at its color. However, you should look for fruit that feels heavy for its size and protrudes slightly when you press the underside of the bloom with your thumb tip.
- This fruit lives up to its name, and most people also agree that it looks ugly from the outside. The skin is greenish yellow with sometimes a little orange, and is thickest at the tip of the neck. This fruit looks like a mandarin orange, but it has larger, prominent pores or an uneven appearance.
- Don't worry about the surface having lots of scratches, uneven color, or loose skin. None of those mentioned say anything about the quality of the fruit.
- Most uglis are quite large, but the smaller ones tend to be more flavorful and sweeter. The fruit is 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in diameter.
- If there is a soft spot or brown spot on the fruit, gently press it with your thumb. If your thumb can get in, the fruit is rotten.
- The fruit should have a slight bulge, especially at the blooming end, but should not be mushy.
Step 3. Store this fruit at room temperature
You should eat the ugli fruit within five days if stored at room temperature. However, if you put it in the refrigerator, you can store it for up to 2 weeks.
- This fruit does not have to be stored in a box of any kind.
- Check the fruit daily to make sure it doesn't rot. See if soft spots start to form, and press into these soft spots with your thumb to see if the skin is exposed or not. If the skin is exposed, the fruit is overripe and partially rotted.
Step 4. Wash the fruit before you use it
Rinse the ugli fruit under cool running water and pat dry with a paper towel. While you won't be eating the peel, you need to handle it like you would the fruit, so it's important to have clean skin and clean hands.
Part 2 of 4: Eating the Ugli Fruit
Step 1. Eat the ugli fruit with a spoon
Cut it in half, loosen the segments, and eat it straight from the skin with a spoon.
- When you cut the ugli fruit to open it, the inside should look similar to a citrus fruit, but the ugli fruit looks more fleshy and juicy than a regular orange.
- Unlike grapefruit, ugli fruit is sweet enough to be eaten straight like this and does not need to be added sugar. If you add sugar, you may even find it too sweet.
- Ugli fruit can be enjoyed like this as a simple and light breakfast.
- If you want to use this fruit for lunch or a light but exotic dessert, you can divide it in half and sprinkle with sherry or kirsch before enjoying it.
Step 2. Peel and separate the segments
Peel the skin of the ugli fruit and separate it into sections, just as you would with an orange. These parts can be eaten one by one.
- The skin is thick but loose and fluffy, so you should be able to peel it off with your fingers.
- This fruit rarely has seeds, so you don't have to worry about removing the seeds before enjoying this fruit.
- The segments in this fruit are also easy to separate, and you should be able to separate them with your fingers too.
- Enjoy ugli fruit like this as a light snack or side dish for your breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Part 3 of 4: Using Ugli Fruits for Dishes
Step 1. Using ugli fruit in cold dishes
Like other citrus fruits, ugli oranges are perfect in cold dishes such as mixed salads with mixed greens or tropical salads.
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For a simple salad, use a variety of leafy greens, such as leaf lettuce, curly endive, lamb's lettuce, and spinach. Consider adding complementary fruit, such as strawberries, or other accents such as sliced almonds, blue cheese spice, or granola (grain mix). However, avoid adding too many other flavours, as they may conflict with the taste of the ugli fruit.
Regarding the seasoning, choose a light or sour vinaigrette
- For a simple fruit salad or mixed fruit dish, mix ugli fruit with tropical vegetables or other complementary vegetables, such as mango, pineapple, strawberry, or grapefruit. Avoid adding ugli fruit with other sour flavors, such as mandarin oranges, as they taste too similar.
- In addition to using ugli fruit in mixed dishes without heat, you can also use it as a garnish for certain desserts, such as cheesecakes.
Step 2. Use it instead of oranges or grapefruit
Ugli fruit tastes similar to the other two citrus fruits, and is similar in structure, so ugli fruit usually works well as a substitute.
- In fact, as a type of tangelo, the ugli fruit is actually a hybrid of a grapefruit (or pamelo) and a mandarin orange.
- The taste is closer to that of an orange than a grapefruit, but the ugli fruit has a tangy flavor that citrus fruits don't have. This fruit in particular is very juicy and sweet.
Step 3. Make sweets
The peel and juice of the ugli fruit can be used to make marmalade, just as citrus fruits can be used to make marmalade.
Combine one chopped ugli fruit with cup (180 ml) white sugar and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) grated ugli rind in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stir, and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes. When done, the marmalade will lose its water and should be thick and shiny
Step 4. Add the segments at the end of the cooking process
If you are using the ugli fruit in a cooked dish, such as a stir fry, you can add the segments you prepared at the end of the cooking process to prevent the fruit from crumbling.
- Ugli fruit segments will work well in stir-fries with sweet sauces and sweet vegetables, such as bell peppers. Cook all the other ingredients first and add the ugli fruit segments for the last 5 minutes, stirring gently and simmering over the heat just long enough to warm them up without breaking them.
- You can also use the fruit segments as a garnish for roast duck, ham, or other meats prepared with a tropical fruit or citrus glaze. Let the ugli fruit stand at room temperature before using it as a garnish, or garnish the flesh with the fruit and place it back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes to warm the ugli segments.
Part 4 of 4: Using Ugli Fruit in Drinks
Step 1. Make the ugli fruit “lemonade”
Freshly squeezed ugli fruit juice can be mixed with water and sugar to make a drink similar to lemonade.
- Make a simple syrup by mixing cup (125 ml) of white sugar with cup (125 ml) of water and heat the mixture in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, transfer the syrup to a kettle and add 1 cup (250 ml) of freshly squeezed ugli fruit juice to the mixture.
- Add 3 to 4 cups (750 to 1000 ml) of cold water to the kettle and stir well to mix all the ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Step 2. Prepare the hot toddy
Mix ugli fruit juice with rum and sweetener. Warm it to make a sweet, tangy, comforting drink.
- Squeeze the juice from the two uglis using an orange squeezer. Place the juice in a small saucepan along with 2 oz (60 ml) dark rum, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey. Heat over medium heat until honey is dissolved.
- To serve, remove the pan from the stove, sprinkle a little cinnamon (if you prefer), and serve in two clean glasses.
Step 3. Blend into a smoothie
When blended with sugar, ice, and other fruit or juices, ugli fruit can be made into a fruit smoothie with a tangy taste.
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Peel and cut one ugli fruit, then peel and slice a banana. Add them to a blender with cup (60 ml) of pineapple juice, cup (60 ml) of milk, and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of white sugar or honey. Mix together until smooth, add 8 ice cubes and mix again until the ice is crushed.
This can make about 4 servings, which should be enjoyed right away
- You can also experiment with your own variations. Any flavor you'll pair with citrus will usually do the trick, including strawberry, mango, or other tropical fruit or citrus fruit.
