Grilled tangerine dish is making waves among young people, promoted by 2 hottest actors

The dishes in Korean movies have long had a special appeal, not only satisfying the audience's eyes but also stimulating the taste buds, even creating culinary trends. Recently, the movie When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo Gum, has been causing a storm on social networks when it entered the top most-watched movies in many countries, including Vietnam.

Set on Jeju Island in the old days, When Life Gives You Tangerines not only tells the emotional story of the difficult lives of Ae Sun (IU) and Gwan Sik (Park Bo Gum), but also brings a vivid picture of the island's culinary culture. Among the signature dishes that appear throughout the film, grilled tangerines quickly caught the audience's attention.

On Jeju Island, tangerines are not only a specialty fruit but are also transformed into many different dishes. Grilled tangerines are a snack that has existed for a long time. This dish is especially popular in winter, when the cold weather makes people crave something warm. In When Life Gives You Tangerines, grilled tangerines appear in some emotional scenes. The image of tangerines being grilled on a fire, the skin is charred but the inside is soft and sweet, making the audience curious about this simple but attractive dish. After watching the movie, many people searched for and tried making grilled tangerines at home.

If you want to try grilled tangerines at home, you can refer to some of the following recipes:

Grill or cover with foil.

Another way to grill tangerines is to place them directly on the grill over low heat. Alternatively, you can wrap the tangerines in foil and place them over a wood or charcoal stove. This prevents the tangerines from burning directly, keeping the moisture inside while still enhancing the sweetness of the tangerine flesh. This method is suitable if you want the tangerines to have a milder flavor while still retaining a juicy texture.

Grill in a frying pan

If you don’t have a stove or grill, you can use a frying pan to make roasted tangerines. First, cut the tangerine in half horizontally, then place the cut side down in the pan and roast over low heat. As the tangerine flesh begins to brown and caramelize, its flavor will intensify. This will help concentrate the tangerine juice, creating a natural sweetness while still maintaining the tenderness of the tangerine flesh.

Grilled with air fryer

If you want to make grilled tangerines in a more modern way, an air fryer is a convenient option. First, wash the tangerines and drain them. Then, place them in the air fryer and bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. Next, flip the tangerines and continue baking for another 5-10 minutes to ensure that the tangerine skin is lightly charred, while the flesh inside becomes tender, sweet, and easier to digest. This method is suitable for those who want to enjoy grilled tangerines at home without using a wood stove or frying pan.

Although the methods are different, they all produce grilled tangerines with a distinctive flavor. When the tangerine is grilled, it begins to give off a warm aroma, with a hint of citrus essential oil but milder, not as strong as when peeling fresh tangerines. Holding the hot tangerine in your hand, the first feeling is that the outer skin is a bit rough, with some burnt spots but not too crispy. The interesting thing is that the tangerine fiber seems to stick to the skin, making the inside look cleaner, not sticky like when eating fresh tangerines.

Take a bite and you will immediately feel the difference. The sourness is significantly reduced, replaced by a richer sweetness. The hot juice inside, when melted in the mouth, will bring an extremely pleasant feeling of warmth, especially on cold winter days. The burnt skin also has a rather interesting taste. The heat causes the substances in the skin to penetrate the tangerine segments, so sometimes there is a slight bitterness, creating a slightly "strange" taste. However, after eating a few fruits, you will find it easier to eat, even quite attractive.

To get the best flavor from the grilled tangerines, keep the heat so that the skin is just slightly charred, not completely burnt. If grilled properly, the tangerine flesh inside will be sweeter, softer, and not mixed with the bitter taste of the burnt skin. If the skin is too burnt, not only will it be difficult to peel, but it can also upset the balance of the flavor of the grilled tangerines. Another thing to note is that when the tangerines are cooked, you should let them cool a bit, then peeling the skin will be easier.

Grilled tangerines are not only an attractive snack, but are also considered a folk remedy to help prevent colds. Jeju people have long had the habit of eating grilled tangerines when they have a cold, because tangerines contain a lot of vitamin C, flavonoids and carotenoids, which help boost immunity and improve blood circulation. In particular, for those who do not like the sour taste of fresh tangerines or are prone to heartburn when eating tangerines, grilled tangerines are a perfect solution. When grilled, the sourness is reduced, making them easier to eat and good for the stomach.

Thanks to When Life Gives You Tangerines, Jeju Island's simple grilled tangerines have become more well-known and loved. If you've never tried grilled tangerines, try making them yourself and enjoying them. You might be fascinated by the warm, sweet, and strange flavor of this familiar fruit.