March 01, 2011

To Try Tuesday - Calamansi-Ginger Scones

 

It is that time of the week again where I need to glance through my To Try recipes and choose something to make.  The problem is the list just keeps growing and I don't think there are enough days in the week to try them all.  This week I chose a scone recipe that I had printed out from Epicurious.  It is funny though how the recipe I printed out isn't exactly what I ended up making.  Originally this recipe was a Meyer Lemon and Dried Blueberry Scone, which I will be making and blogging about this weekend.  However, I had signed up to do a baking class last weekend at KCC, and I had about 30 minutes to spare before class, so I wandered around the Farmers' Market.  I saw some wonderful little calamansi and they were calling my name.


Calamansi (also known as calamondin) is a small citrus fruit that resembles a lime, but it is orange inside. I always thought they were a fruit from the Philippines, but according to Wikipedia they are actually a hybrid, possibly being a cross between a mandarin orange or tangerine and a kumquat. I was surprised that something so small could have such large seeds.  Mine had four seeds in each (and a few smaller pieces that looked somewhat like a seed) and they were as large as a lemon seed.  Also be warned to watch out for your knuckles when you are zesting them - there isn't much to grab on to when you are running that microplane across the peel.  To me they taste like a lime that has a hint of mandarin orange.





I was very pleased with the end result.  I barely let them cool before I glazed one so I could bite into the yumminess.  They are so tender, with just a hint of spice from the ginger and tartness from the calamansi juice, and I just loved the sweet-tart glaze on top.  Buttermilk helps to produce a softer texture in baked goods, and it definitely worked its' magic here.  I doubt these are going to last long around here.







Calamansi-Ginger Scones

Ingredients
  • 3 cups self-rising flour 
  • ½ cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar   
  • ¾ cup (11/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes 
  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk 
  • 1 ½ tablespoons calamansi zest
  • 2 tablespoon crystallized ginger, finely minced
  • 3 tablespoon calamansi juice, divided
  • ½ cup of powdered sugar, sifted.

Preparation
  1. Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 425°F. 
  2. Line large baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper.
  3. Whisk self-rising flour and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl. 
  4. Using fingertips, rub in chilled butter until pieces are size of small peas. 
  5. Mix 1 cup buttermilk,  1 tablespoon calamansi juice, and calamansi zest in glass measuring cup.
  6. Pour buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients and stir until dough begins to form (some of flour will not be incorporated).
  7. Transfer dough to lightly floured work surface and gather together. 
  8. Knead dough briefly, about 5 turns. 
  9. Divide dough in half. Form each dough half into ball and flatten into 1-inch-thick disk. Cut each disk into 6 wedges.
  10. Transfer scones to prepared baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. 
  11. Brush tops with remaining 1 tablespoon buttermilk and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar. 
  12. Bake until scones are golden brown on top and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes (watch them because mine were done in about 18 minutes).
  13. Allow to cool.
  14. While scones are cooling make glaze by combing powdered sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons of calamansi juice. Brush over scones with a pastry brush.
Makes 12 scones.

Recipes adapted from this recipe at Epicurious.com




30 comments:

  1. This is the 2nd scone recipe I've com across today. Someone's trying to tell me something!! These are perfect as I have a huge bag of oranges that need a destiny!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Something about the glaze that makes these scones look even better. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful scones! I've never even heard of calamansi. This is what I love about the food-blogging world, I am constantly exposed to new things.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those looks great. I would love fresh calaminsi.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad you had some time to find these calamansi at the market. They look incredible and wish we could get them here! Ginger must be one of my favs and the combination of the 2 in these scones must be SO tasty!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've never heard of a calamansi, I'll have to be on the lookout! Great looking scones!

    ReplyDelete
  7. These are really lovely. I've never heard of calamansi before.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have never heard of Calamansi before! To be honest my eyes were registering the word as calamari!! HA ha...that might be kinda gross. Glad I was wrong, because these scones look and sound deliscious!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Really cool learning about calamansi. I've also never had a scone before, although I have heard of them. I'll have to make them sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have never heard of Calamansi before either, I'm curious as to how easy it was for you to find this fruit. I've never seen it before, but I've also never looked! Your scones look really delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  11. More gorgeous pictures!! I've never heard of the Calamansi before, but I wonder if I could grow it?? Might have to check that one out.
    Love the scones!! We discovered how easy it is to make scones last year and I think I've added a bit around the waist simply due to my scone addiction.
    This will now go on our "to try" list!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have never heard of calamansi. These scones look delicious and must have been a great success!

    ReplyDelete
  13. love calamansi, now I have to go find some here :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Now I have seen these recently at the store and really wasn't sure what they were or what to do with them. They aren't too badly priced, kind of like you thought they were some exotic fruit from some hot spot. Will have to give them a go, thanks for the recipe to try and the new fruit to discover.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well you learn something new everyday. Thank you for introducing me to Calamansi. Your scones look melt in your mouth delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  16. wow, what a great flavor for scones!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Given how very much I love limes, I would love to try one of these. But given that I cannot find Meyer lemons either I doubt I am encountering one of these any time soon. I'll have to check when I go into the city.

    The scones look delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This recipe is printing out as I'm typing. I'm in the midst of a scone addiction so I can't wait to give them a go, though I doubt very strongly I"ll be able to fine calamansi in this area. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your scones are gorgeous! I've never heard of calamansi, but I will definitely be on the look out. Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love scone recipes with buttermilk in them, and even though I've never heard of calamansi before...I'm eager to give this recipe a try. Thank you for sharing your creativity with me! I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I haven't tried calamansi yet-or perhaps I just thought that they were limes and didn't buy them because I already have some. I must ask next time I'm in the shop! :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful scones!!! I have never heard of calamansi either but it looks divine!! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm glad you liked the Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies! ♥- Katrina

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is the first time I've heard of (or seen) calamansi... but now I'm intrigued! Seeing that I adore ginger scones, I think this is going to be one that I try.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow, never heard of Calamansi. Will have to hunt these down. Think this might make an interesting twist to what would normally be limeaide.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What delicious looking scones! I always love to drizzle glaze on my scones, it make them just a bit more decadent:)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful scones! I've never even heard of calamansi! you've got me intrigued about it.
    thanks for sharing Felice

    ReplyDelete
  27. oh these look so beautifully delicate !

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love calamansi! And I've never seen anyone bake with it so good on ya!

    ReplyDelete
  29. ah those look utterly DELIGHTFUL!!! Scones are my favorite baked good. I've never heard of Calamansi before...at first I thought calamari! Haha!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.