Gliko Pergamonto (Bergamot Peel Preserve)

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~ Ingredients: ~ 15 bergamot oranges ~ 2 kilos of sugar ~ Juice of 2 lemons ~ 3 cups of water ~ 2-3 leaves of sweet- scented pelargonium (optional) ~ Juice of 1/2 a lemon for the finish	Photo taken by Bingham Boy

 

~ Wash the bergamot well, and dry with a towel. ~ Grate the peel with a fine grater without reaching the white part of it. ~ Slash the bergamot in 3 starting from the stem side to the bottom. ~ Peel and remove the thick fibres from the inside of the peel. ~ Roll up each piece and with a thick needle thread them close to each other and tie them to prevent them from unrolling during cooking. ~ Do not put all the peel on one thread but separated them into 2-3 threads or more according to how many pieces you want to make. ~ Place the threaded peels in a large enough pot and heat up with enough water to cover them for 2-3 minutes from the time of boiling. ~ Remove from the heat and the next day, change the water, and repeat the same process of boiling. ~ Remove from the heat and repeat the same process for a third day. ~ On the fourth day, change the water again, boil for about 6-7 minutes, discard the hot water and replace it with clean cold water immediately and add the juice of 2 lemons. ~ Place the pot over heat again and boil until they are soft. ~ Remove from the heat and let it aside to cool down completely. ~ Drain, remove the threads and squeeze each peel by hand to remove any excess liquid. ~ Place in a clean pot, add the sugar, 3 cups of water and set aside for about 1/2 an hour (for the peels to release their liquids) and heat through for about 15 minutes. ~ Remove from the heat and set aside until the next day. ~ The following day, place the pot over heat again and boil until the syrup thickens and sets. ~ Right before the syrup sets, add the juice of 1/2 a lemon, the leaves of sweet- scented pelargonium (optional). ~ Remove from the heat, cover the pot with a thin cloth to prevent from something falling in and let it cool down completely. ~ Place in clean sterilized jars and refrigerate. ~ Good luck and enjoy.