Wondering what to do with all those roses you got for Valentine’s Day? Well, here’s some food for thought. According to What’s Cooking America: “All roses are edible, with a flavor reminiscent of strawberries and green apples. Sweet, with subtle undertones ranging from fruit to mint to spice. The miniature varieties can garnish ice cream and desserts, or larger petals can be sprinkled on desserts or salads.” All the more reason to include this infusion as part of your pantry oils. The delicate bouquet of citrus, lavender, and rose evokes the refreshing scent of spring rain. It blends exceptionally well with raspberry vinegar for a delicate vinaigrette. Tossed into a curly endive salad of orange sections, freshly shaved fennel, apples, candied walnuts, and dried cranberries, and you have the perfect brunch salad. With a flavor profile similar to herbs de Provence, the oil pairs equally well with fish, chicken, and vegetables. Does the essence of rose in cooking make the food taste perfumey? Not at all. In fact, the roses soften the sharp tones of the lavender while the citrus notes carry the trio for a light, harmonious blend.

Recipe Notes: What you’ll need: Glass jar, bowl, fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth. Infusion is prepared in 4-easy steps. Total active prep time 15-minutes. Difficulty level: moderately easy

FYI: When infusing oils with fresh ingredients, food safety is paramount. Unlike dry ingredients, fresh ingredients contain water, which allows bacteria to live and grow. Clostridium botulinum (C. bot) thrives in an oxygen-free environment like oil. This is why certain precautions should be adhered to in preparation, and in storing to prevent botulism poisoning.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup dried rose petals ( can be sourced from the international section of markets carrying Middle Eastern foods.)
• 1-tsp dried lavender
• 2-peeled strips from a lime
• 2-peeled strips from an orange
• 2-peeled strips from a lemon
• 1-cup grape seed oil

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• 2-cup fresh rose petals (preferably red)

Preparation:

Step-1

1. Twist and pluck fresh roses from the base of sepal and store petals in a plastic container in the refrigerator while oil cures.
2. Using a vegetable peeler, peel 2-strips per citrus starting from the top and working to the bottom of the fruit, avoiding the bitter white part.
3. Place dry petals, lavender, and citrus peelings in glass Mason jar.
4. Heat oil in the microwave for 2-minutes and pour over ingredients.
5. Allow to cool. Cover the jar and refrigerate for 1-week.

Step-2

One week later:

1. Remove infusion and rose petals from the refrigerator.
2. Bring water to a boil in a 2-qt saucepan. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath in a large bowl for blanching* rose petals.
3. Drop rose petals in boiling water for no more than 30-seconds.
4. Immediately strain and place petals in the ice bath for a full 5-minutes.
5. Strain and transfer to a cloth towel. Place a second towel on top and gently pat petals dry.

Step-3

1. Transfer oil infusion to a blender, add blanched rose petals, and puree.
2. This pummeling process releases the color and flavors from the roses, lavender, and citrus.
3. Pour unstrained puree into a glass jar, cover and refrigerate for two days to fully cure the oil

Step-4

Day-2: For easy straining, let puree sit for 1-hour at room temperature.

 

1. Place a double layer of cheesecloth in a fine-mesh strainer over bowl and strain puree.
2. Using the back of a spoon, gently press puree to extract oil.
3. Gather corner edges of the cheesecloth and bring together to form a bag and secure with a rubber band.
4. Pinching the banded portion of the bag with one hand, gently counter twist bag with the other to squeeze out the remaining oil.
5. Discard sachet and strain oil a second time to remove any fragmented impurities.
6. Store in the refrigerator for 1 month. Bring to room temperature before using it.

*Blanching is a cooking term for shocking fruit, vegetables, or herbs by scalding in boiling water for a short period, then immersing them in an ice bath to halt the cooking process, soften the fibers, release flavor, and retain color.