Salade d’oranges à la badiane

Sliced oranges with star anise

Star anise stars in this dessert of sliced oranges bathed in a syrup also flavored with cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. The star anise seeds may be used for decoration.

For best results, choose large, sweet oranges. Slicing the oranges and making the syrup takes about 10 minutes. The syrup is poured over the oranges while still warm, and the dessert is then refrigerated for a while to allow it to cool and the flavors to mingle.

The recipe will produce more syrup than you need, but this is not a problem. The extra syrup can be stored in the fridge for several weeks and may be used again over fruit, for example clementines, or mixed with water and served over ice for a delightful soft drink.

The quantities below will serve two people.

2 large or 3 medium oranges
3/4 cup (150 g) sugar
1 cup (250 ml) water
4 star anise seeds
1 cinnamon stick or 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 vanilla bean or 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract or 1 tsp. vanilla sugar
2 cloves

Peel the oranges, removing all the exterior white bits. The easiest way to do this is to slice the unpeeled oranges into rounds, then place the rounds on a board and cut away the peel.

Transfer the orange slices to a serving plate.

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat. When the sugar has melted, add the spices. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Filter the syrup by pouring it through a sieve into a bowl or jar. While the syrup is still warm, spoon enough over the oranges to cover them. Decorate with the star anise seeds.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serves 2.