The 'Tompkins Square' Bodega-Style Fresh Squeezed OJ
Jugo de Naranja Natural·(hoo-goh deh nah-rahn-hah nah-too-rahl)
Chapter 5 — Sides, Sweets & Drinks
Seven a.m. on Avenue A, the flat-top hisses, you have spent twenty-four hours cold-proofing dough and meticulously layering bias-cut Nova over proper scallion schmear, do not insult that sandwich. To drink with it, you need the exact profile of the bodega juice machine, that brightly colored machine pressing frothy Valencia oranges into a plastic deli pint without ever touching the bitter peel. We are going to mimic a five-thousand-dollar Zumex with a heavy glass reamer, until the thick pulp settles at the bottom of the cup, waiting for the walk to the train.
Before you start
Warm the oranges in the microwave.
Place the whole, unpeeled oranges on a plate and microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds to soften the rigid internal juice vesicles.
Roll the fruit to burst the internal capsules.
Place the warmed orange on the counter, press the palm of your hand firmly into it, and roll it back and forth under heavy downward pressure until it softens.
Ingredients
- Valencia oranges3 lb
Method
- 01
Extract the juice while avoiding the bitter peel oil.
If using an electric reamer, halve the fruit and gently press it onto the spinning cone without scraping the white pith into the plastic. If using a blender, meticulously cut away all the exterior rind and spongy white pith, drop the pure flesh into the pitcher, and blend on high for one minute.
- 02
Filter out the heavy pulp and seeds.
Pour the extracted liquid through a fine-mesh strainer set over a large bowl, gently pressing the juice through with the back of a spoon.
- 03
Pour into chilled glasses and serve immediately.
If you properly sourced Valencias, you can stash the excess in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to three days without it turning sour.
Notes
Sourcing the right fruit is non-negotiable.
You must use Valencia oranges, which safely store their bitter precursor chemicals in the seeds rather than the flesh. If you are forced to use Navels, drink the juice within thirty minutes of extraction or it will turn aggressively bitter.
Build a proper Morir Soñando.
To honor the Dominican lineage of the corner bodega, combine 1 cup ice-cold evaporated milk, 3 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add 2 cups of ice and stir until near freezing, then slowly pour in 2 cups of your chilled orange juice to prevent the citric acid from curdling the dairy.