Here’s what you need to know about satsuma orange! Get this tangerine variety at the grocery store for snacks and recipes.
Every winter our social media feeds are filled with pictures of the gorgeous orange satsuma with its beautiful, shiny, spherical body and leafy stem. But what is satsuma? Is it worth buying? Here’s what you need to know about this unique tangerine variety.
What is a satsuma orange?
The Satsuma Orange is a type of seedless tangerine with a juicy, sweet taste. Tangerine is a category of sweet, fluffy small citrus fruits, including tangerines, clementines, and satsumas. What is the difference between satsuma and clementines? Satsumas are slightly larger and have a slightly more lemony flavor. They’re more delicate than clementines, so they’re harder to find in the grocery store.
Satsumas are in season between October and December, so you can see them at your local grocery store during the winter months. In the United States, they are grown in California and the southeastern states. It is also grown around the world in Japan, China, Spain, Korea, etc.
How to store satsuma oranges
Satsuma oranges stay good at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, although they’re at their best in 4-5 days. You can also keep them in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Satsuma Foods and Calories
Satsumas are a healthy food packed with vitamins (source). A satsuma orange has:
- 50 calories
- 2 grams of fiber
- 11 grams of carbohydrates
- 0 grams of fat, cholesterol or sodium
- 73% of the daily value of vitamin C (66mg)
Note: they are very juicy!
Satsuma oranges are very juicy. Although they are considered easy to peel, we often end up with a lot of juice when we peel them. Keep that in mind when using them in recipes. We prefer to eat them as a snack or use recipes that call for their juice, like salad dressings or cocktails. Speaking of…
Recipes and ways to eat them
The Best Way to Eat a Satsuma Orange? Eat it raw! This tangerine variety is wonderfully juicy and perfect for snacking. But if you want to get a little more creative, there are so many ways to use it. Use the juice in vinaigrettes or cocktails, or slice into salads. Here are a few ideas:
Looking for a savory dressing to spice up your veggies? This Zesty Orange Satsuma Dressing hits the spot! It contains both fresh lemon and orange juice and is perfectly balanced.
Get the recipe
Here’s an easy and refreshing Satusma recipe just waiting to hit your table: citrus salad! It has all the beautiful, vibrant citrus fruits: tart grapefruit and various varieties of oranges. Satsumas can be substituted for any of the navel or blood oranges.
Get the recipe
Ready to discover our (and your) new favorite salad? It features beautiful, juicy oranges with their vibrant color and citrus flavor. Added to this is a famous accord: chopped raw fennel, which adds a subtle essence of liquorice.
Get the recipe
Here’s a refreshing citrus satsuma cocktail: try the Orange Margarita! Add freshly squeezed Satsuma Orange Juice to this classic cocktail and you have an absolutely zesty, fragrant drink irresistible.
Get the recipe
Do you have a lot of satsumas to use? Make an orange smoothie! Oranges have a nice citrus flavor and are high in vitamin C. This orange smoothie is creamy and tangy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Here, replace 6 satsumas with the standard 2 oranges.
Get the recipe
Use satsuma oranges to add a citrus flavor to yogurt! Start with Greek yogurt and add satsuma juice, zest, vanilla, and maple syrup for sweeteners. It tastes better than the store bought kind.
Get the recipe
The description
This Spicy Orange Satsuma Dressing only takes a few minutes to make! It uses the juicy fruit to create a dressing that will brighten up any salad.
- 2 tablespoons Satsuma orange juice, plus the zest of half an orange
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
- Grate the satsuma orange. In a medium bowl, combine orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gradually whisk in 1 tbsp olive oil (8 tbsp total) until creamy and emulsified. Season to taste with additional salt.
- Category: Essential
- Method: salad
- Kitchen: salad
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Satsuma, Orange Satsuma, Tangerine Satsuma
