Fit Fare

By Madeline Miller and Cate O’Malley

Scott Uehlein, the corporate chef at the exclusive Canyon Ranch Spa, has joined forces with the Florida Department of Citrus to promote low-fat/low-cal cooking using healthy ethnic recipes and incorporating more citrus in the kitchen, all still allowing for high flavor impact.

Chef Uehlein believes that by eating healthy, you don’t have to forgo flavor.  “To enhance the taste of favorite dishes, 100 percent orange juice is one of the most naturally healthy and convenient citrus beverages available.”  Chef Uehlein encourages home cooks to take it beyond the breakfast table to boost the flavor and nutrition of their recipes.

As the corporate chef of the Canyon Ranch Health Resorts and SpaClubs, Chef Uehlein oversees the food and beverage programs for the Canyon Ranch properties. His culinary training is from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he graduated in 1985.

In 2000, when Gourmet magazine recognized the Canyon Ranch as the World’s Best Spa, they praised Chef Uehlein and his staff for bring “Canyon Ranch cuisine into a new dimension.” The readers of Travel + Leisure magazine voted Canyon Ranch in Tucson the Top Spa for Food in the US in 2001, and in the January 2003 issue of Bon Appetit magazine, Chef Uehlein was featured in the article, ”The Spa Who Loved Me.” 

Chef Uehlein recently answered a few questions for us on his techniques and philosophies in the kitchen.

How did you end up working with the Florida Department of Citrus? As international flavors gain popularity, more and more people want to make easy, healthy versions of their favorite ethnic recipes at home. I’m passionate about healthy cooking and international flavors, so I partnered with the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) to showcase what 100 percent Florida orange juice can do. Working the FDOC, I have created five delicious, international-inspired recipes using orange juice which is a convenient and naturally nutrient-rich ingredient that most everyone has in their refrigerators.

Some people watching their diet worry about the sugar content of orange juice.  How can they use orange juice in a way that won’t result in too much sugar intake? Portion control is key to managing any aspect of your diet. It’s also important to remember that, ounce for ounce, 100 percent orange juice provides more nutrients than many other popular fruit juices.

If you could only give me one recipe using oranges and/or orange juice, what would it be? Citrus Flank Steak “Cuban Style” with Mashed Sweet Potatoes – This dish is a twist on a traditional Cuban favorite that serves up lively flavor and nutrition.

Why should orange juice move beyond the breakfast table? While drinking 100 percent orange juice for breakfast provides many nutritional benefits, I believe it can be a versatile recipe ingredient. Orange juice has a vibrant citrus-sweet flavor that enhances many different types of food, and it adds a valuable nutritious boost.

What is your food philosophy? At Canyon Ranch, we subscribe to a “clean and healthy” food philosophy, and use bold and vibrant flavors in all our dishes. I have always felt that it is important to combine healthful ingredients with easy-to-prepare recipes to ensure people maintain a healthy lifestyle. Gourmet spa cuisine should not be limited to vacations and restaurants, it’s a habit that can be easily adopted in your own kitchen.

What are some of the benefits of incorporating more oranges into our diets? Pure 100 percent Florida orange juice is a naturally nutrient-rich source of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as beneficial antioxidants. From providing many of the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy immune system to help the body fight disease and inflammation to promoting heart and brain health, adding 100 percent orange juice to a recipe or simply drinking an eight-ounce glass can help fuel the body for a lifetime of health. An eight-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice helps to meet USDA fruit intake recommendations. It also provides the body with flavonoids, carotenoids, folate, vitamins C and B6, potassium and magnesium. Fresh oranges also supply all these important vitamins, as well as fiber.

What ingredients pair well with oranges in recipes? I like to use other “warm weather” flavors – anything from tropical tastes like pineapple and coconut to Mediterranean ingredients such as olives and tomatoes. Citrus flavors like orange are kind of sweet and sour, so I like the addition of bitter and salty to round out the flavors, hence the olive idea. Thinking tropical, I love the idea of balancing those “sweet” flavors like coconut and pineapple with a little citrus.

How are oranges used in international cuisine?  Oranges and orange juice naturally enhance the taste of various ethnic cuisines by adding a great balance of flavor with the extra benefit of increased nutrition. Mixing orange juice into a traditional sauce or marinade, for example, is an easy way to add some zest and make a dish more nourishing.

How does using oranges fit with Canyon Ranch’s unique philosophy? Our food philosophy centers around clean and healthy eating. Oranges and orange juice are natural, flavorful and nutritious. What better way to rejuvenate than with something that is so wholesome and delicious?

What’s new in the Canyon Ranch kitchen these days? We are doing lots of work on recipe development for our new Miami restaurant, as well as getting ready to open a second restaurant at our SpaClub in Las Vegas. Sourcing local, organic and sustainable ingredients and preparing them in a simple and flavorful way is a full time job!

How could a home cook use oranges in a unique but practical way?  I actually have four tips that cooks can follow to incorporate orange juice into their cooking:

- Replace vinegar and sugar in your favorite marinade recipes with 100 percent orange juice

- Substitute 100 percent orange juice for white wine in recipes for sauces

- One hundred percent orange juice can be used in place of milk in some baking recipes for an additional dimension of flavor and nutrition

- Add 100 percent orange juice to your favorite BBQ sauces to help cut down on calories and boost flavor

What are your general tips for creating flavorful cuisine from healthy ingredients?  There is no need to forgo flavor when eating healthy. You can achieve a balance of both right in your own kitchen. Try to incorporate sweet, sour, bitter and salty in to each dish. If you do, you can easily reduce fat and save calories!

For some of Chef Uehlein’s receipes featuring flavorful citrus accents, check out the Florida Orange Juice website here.