Orange Squash Recipe | Homemade Orange Squash from Fresh Oranges
What Is Orange Squash Recipe?
Orange squash is a sweet orange concentrate made with fresh oranges, sugar, water and lemon juice. Instead of making an orange drink from scratch every time, you prepare the squash once and keep it ready to mix with chilled water or soda whenever you want a refreshing drink.
During summer and orange season, I usually buy a good amount of oranges and make this homemade orange squash at home. I find it especially useful in the morning when I want a quick orange drink, and it also comes in handy when guests come over or when I am serving drinks at a party.
For parties, I like mixing the squash with chilled carbonated soda. It turns into a simple fizzy orange drink that feels a little more special, without much extra work. For kids too, I prefer having a homemade option ready rather than always reaching for packaged drinks.
The nice thing about making it yourself is that you can decide how sweet you want it. I add sugar to my squash, but you can reduce it, skip it, or simply make fresh orange juice if that is what you prefer.
So, how do you turn fresh oranges into a homemade squash that you can quickly serve with either water or soda? That’s what I’ll show you in this recipe, step by step.
Health Benefits of Oranges
Oranges are not only refreshing and juicy, but they also provide several important nutrients. Here are some of the main health benefits of eating fresh oranges:
- Rich in vitamin C: Oranges are a good source of vitamin C, which supports normal immune function and helps protect cells from oxidative stress.
- Supports hydration: Oranges have a high water content, making them a refreshing fruit to enjoy, especially during hot weather.
- Good source of fiber: Whole oranges provide dietary fiber, which supports normal digestion and helps keep you feeling full.
- Provides folate: Oranges contain folate, an important nutrient involved in normal cell division and growth.
- Contains antioxidants: Oranges provide vitamin C and other plant compounds that have antioxidant properties.
- Supports heart health: The fiber, potassium and plant compounds naturally found in oranges can be part of a heart-healthy diet.
Note: These benefits refer mainly to fresh whole oranges. This homemade squash contains added sugar, so it shouldn’t be presented as nutritionally equivalent to eating a whole orange.
Ingredients for Orange Squash drink recipe
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this homemade orange squash:
- Oranges – 1 kg: Use fresh, juicy oranges for the best flavor and natural orange taste.
- Sugar – 1 cup (250 g): I used regular granulated sugar to make the squash. You can adjust the amount according to how sweet you like it.
- Water – 1.2 cups: Used to prepare the sugar syrup.
- Lemon juice – from 1 lemon: Adds a little acidity and balances the sweetness of the orange squash.
How to Make Orange Squash
Making orange squash at home is quite simple. The main thing is to get the fresh orange juice ready first, then prepare the sugar syrup and combine everything properly. Here is how I made this homemade orange squash step by step.
1. Prepare the Oranges
Take 1 kg of fresh oranges and peel them completely. Separate the orange segments and remove the seeds. Keep the cleaned orange pulp aside.
2. Blend the Orange Pulp
Add the cleaned orange segments to a mixer grinder and blend them until you get a smooth orange mixture. There is no need to add water while blending.
3. Strain the Orange Juice
Pour the blended orange mixture through a strainer and strain it well to separate the fresh orange juice from the remaining pulp and fibers. Keep the strained orange juice aside.
4. Make the Sugar Syrup
Take 1 cup (250 g) sugar and 1.2 cups water in a saucepan. Heat it and stir until the sugar dissolves completely and you get a clear sugar syrup.
Once the syrup is ready, switch off the heat and let it cool down.
5. Combine the Orange Juice and Syrup
Once the sugar syrup has cooled, add the strained orange juice to it. Add the juice of 1 lemon and mix everything well.
Keep the mixture on low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring gently so everything combines properly.
6. Cool and Store
Once the orange squash is ready, allow it to cool completely. Transfer it to a clean glass bottle and keep it refrigerated.
Now your homemade orange squash is ready. Whenever you want a drink, you can take the required amount of squash and mix it with chilled water or soda.
How to Serve Orange Squash Drink
- For a simple orange drink, I use:
- ½ cup orange squash + ½ cup chilled water
- For a fizzy orange drink:
- ½ cup orange squash + ½ cup chilled carbonated soda
- The same homemade squash works with both water and soda, so you can serve it according to your preference.
Tips for Making Orange Squash
- Choose fresh, juicy oranges: Since orange is the main ingredient, use fresh and juicy oranges for better flavor and a naturally bright color.
- Remove the seeds before blending: I recommend separating the orange segments and removing the seeds first. It makes the blending process easier and avoids getting seeds into the mixture.
- You don’t need a juicer: You can blend the peeled orange segments in a regular mixer grinder and use the mixture for the squash.
- Straining is optional: If you prefer a smooth orange squash, strain the blended orange mixture. If you like some pulp in your drink, you can skip this step.
- Let the sugar syrup cool: Allow the sugar syrup to cool before combining it with the fresh orange juice.
- Adjust the sweetness: I used 1 cup of sugar for this recipe, but you can reduce the amount according to your taste. You can also skip the sugar if you prefer.
- Use chilled water or soda: The same orange squash can be mixed with chilled water for a simple drink or carbonated soda when you want a fizzy orange drink.
- Keep the prepared squash refrigerated: Once the squash has cooled, transfer it to a clean glass bottle and store it in the refrigerator.
Why Do We Blend the Oranges Instead of Squeezing Them?
For this orange squash recipe, I blend the peeled and deseeded orange segments instead of simply squeezing them. This helps break down the orange segments and gives me a fuller orange mixture to use for the squash.
After blending, you can strain the mixture if you prefer a smoother squash, or skip straining if you like some pulp in your drink. So, you don’t necessarily need a juicer or have to squeeze each orange separately.
If you already have a juicer, you can certainly use it to extract the juice. But when making a larger batch during orange season, I find the blend-and-strain method convenient because I can process all the cleaned orange segments together.
FAQs for Homemade Orange Squash Recipe
What is the difference between orange juice and orange squash?
Fresh orange juice is ready to drink as it is, while orange squash is prepared as a sweetened concentrate that is later diluted with water or soda.
Can I reduce or skip the sugar in orange squash?
Yes. You can reduce the sugar according to your taste. If you prefer unsweetened orange juice, you can also skip making the squash and simply enjoy fresh orange juice.
Can I use soda with homemade orange squash?
Yes. Homemade orange squash works well with carbonated soda. Mix equal parts squash and chilled soda, stir gently and serve cold for a fizzy orange drink.
Can I make orange squash with pulp?
Yes. You can keep the blended orange mixture unstrained if you enjoy pulp in your drink. If you prefer a smoother texture, simply pass it through a strainer.
Can I make orange squash without a juicer?
Yes. You can peel and deseed the oranges, blend the segments in a mixer grinder and then strain the mixture if you want a smoother squash. Straining is optional if you prefer some pulp.
Orange Squash Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Peel the oranges, separate the segments and remove the seeds.
- Blend the cleaned orange segments in a mixer grinder.
- Strain the blended mixture if you prefer a smoother squash. You can skip straining if you like pulp.
- Add sugar and water to a saucepan and prepare the sugar syrup. Let it cool.
- Add the orange juice and lemon juice to the cooled syrup and mix well.
- Cook the mixture on low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring gently.
- Allow the squash to cool completely, then transfer it to a clean glass bottle and refrigerate.
- To serve, mix ½ cup squash with ½ cup chilled water or ½ cup chilled carbonated soda.
Notes
Did You Try This Recipe?
If you tried this orange squash recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and rating below and let me know how you enjoyed it.
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Happy Cooking!!!!
