Candied Grapefruit Peel is so cute, sweet, chewy, juicy, and even relatively healthy!
Grapefruit skin candy is one of my most popular recipes on Tiktok (16 million views and 2.4 million likes) in 2021.
It’s pomelo season yay! Mr He bought home a huge pomelo – as large as my head~
Before I cut open this pomelo, I knew that I will get at least 40% pith and no more than 60% fruit. So I was so prepared to use its pith to make some candied pomelo peel.
Many people on Tiktok have successfully recreated my grapefruit peel candies, while some of you failed. The key to success here is patience. You will need to use medium high heat to pan fry the pith cubes for about 20 minutes. When they start to look dry, keep frying over medium heat for about 10 more minutes until they get crystalized.
But how about the yellow outer skin? Of course we are not going to waste it. You can simply microwave the pomelo/grapefruit skin for 5 minutes to get super refreshing homemade yuzu salt. Check out my yuzu salt recipe here.
Is grapefruit/pomelo peel edible?
Yes, citrus peels are safe and very healthy to eat.
According to Aileen Brabazon, a certified holistic nutritionist, citrus peels “seem to be more nutrient dense than the flesh”.
Citrus peels are packed with vitamin C, calcium and bioflavonoids. They also provide potassium, which is an essential mineral that is needed by all tissues in the body, and limonene, which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antinociceptive, anticancer, antidiabetic, antihyperalgesic, antiviral, and gastroprotective effects.
*However, according to Best Health, if you have a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones, you’d better check with your doctor before eating citrus peels. Citrus peels contain oxalates, which interfere with your body’s calcium absorption.
How does candied grapefruit peel taste?
I am not a candy lover, but I really like the taste of homemade candied grapefruit peel and pomelo peel.
The well balanced taste of the sweetness and subtle bitterness of these chewy candies is so addictive. They actually taste very similar to gummy bears, but with a juicier burst center. One can never tell that these gummies are made from circus peel if he didn’t see the cooking process.
It’s also such an unique and meaningful experience when we keep this high fiber high vitamin C pith out of trash and turn it into something yummy.
EQUIPMENT:
INGREDIENTS LIST:
- 1 large pomelo or grapefruit (I used a pomelo as large as my head. You may need 2 grapefruits if they are small. Only need the pith.)
- 1½ cup sugar (Ideally use rock candies. You can also use regular granulated sugar.)
- 2 cup water
Step-by step INSTRUCTIONS
1. Rinse the grapefruit/pomelo. Peel off the outer yellow skin, remove the flesh of the fruit from the pith. (You can use the outer yellow skin to make yuzu salt.)
2. Cut the pith into 1-inch cubes.
3. Add the pith cubes to a large pot, fill the pot with enough cold water to cover the pith cubes. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
4. Turn off the heat, transfer the pith cubes into a large bowl.
5. Wash the pith for at least 3 times to get rid of the bitter taste. Pretend you’re washing small sponge cubes: Soak the pith in cold water, squeeze out all excess water, change the water for 3 – 4 times until the water turns from green to clear.
6. Add sugar and water to a large frying pan, bring to a boil over high heat, add pith cubes to the pan.
7. Stir the pith cubes with a spatula over high heat for about 10 minutes until there is no water at the bottom of the frying pan. Use the spatula to gently press the pith cubes to squeeze out the excess water.
8. Reduce heat to medium high, keep frying for about 20 more minutes until sugar crystals start to present on the frying pan.
9. Reduce heat to medium, keep frying for 5 to 10 minutes until the pith cubes form a crystallized outer layer. When you shake the pan, you should be able to hear the rustling sound. The candied grapefruit peel or pomelo peel should feel dry to touch.
10. Transfer out to a plate, let cool to room temperature before serving.
NOTES
1. You can use the yellow pomelo/grapefruit skin to make yuzu salt.
2. To wash off the crystalized layer on the spatula and the frying pan: add plenty of water to the frying pan until all the sugar crystals are covered, bring the water to a boil over medium high heat, reduce heat to low, let simmer until all the sugar crystals are melted.
3. To store: stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 month. If the surface starts to feel damp or sticky, pour the candied grapefruit peel to a frying pan, fry over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until the dry crystalized outer layer forms again.
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