Orange à La Teija - Crema de Naranja con Queso Fresco

The winter months in Nerja are such wonderful orange months. Even when the air turns crisp and the evenings fall quieter, the markets brighten with crates of oranges, mandarins, and clementines. The smell alone feels like a little promise of sunshine — a reminder that even in winter, Andalucía glows.

This year, we were lucky enough to receive bags of fresh oranges from our friends. Sunshine in a bag. And that simple moment turned into something special. While tasting those juicy oranges in the kitchen, I suddenly flashed back to a dessert from my childhood, something my mum used to make. I mentioned it, and my dear friend Teija immediately knew what I meant — she had a recipe in mind. And that was it. That memory became our dessert for the whole Christmas period.

We made it for family, for friends, and for cosy evenings when nothing more was needed than something sweet and comforting. It’s so simple, no cooking at all, and it tastes like the best parts of winter in Nerja — creamy, citrusy, and loving in its simplicity. People started asking for the recipe, so here it is. But remember: Nerja Amigos recipes are never about exact measurements. They are about feel, taste, and adjusting as you go. (Which is probably why we don’t bake. 😂)

I knew the flavour from childhood, but I had never learned how to make it. Maybe that was a gift — no pressure, no chasing down ingredients from far away, no searching international supermarkets. Just using what we have. A Spanish twist on a Nordic memory: Nerja oranges ( lots at the market during winter), queso fresco or quark, freshly whipped cream, sugar or honey, vanilla sugar, and a few ginger biscuits from the cupboard. That’s all it needs.

So we named it after Teija: Orange à La Teija 🍊 But let´s give it also a Spanish name: Crema de Naranja con Queso Fresco

And now it’s part of our winter.

Recipe: Orange à La Teija - Crema de Naranja con Queso Fresco

Ingredients:

• 4–5 big juicy oranges

• 250g of Quark / Queso Fresco

• 1 small pack of fresh cream (nata para montar)

• Sugar or honey (to taste)

• ½ pack vanilla sugar

• Ginger biscuits (crushed for the base)

 Instructions:

1. Peel & Chop the Oranges. Cut into small pieces and place in a bowl. Do not waste the juice — keep some of it - drink rest.

2. Add the Quark. Spoon in the quark / queso fresco and lightly mix with the oranges.

3. Whip the Cream. Whisk the fresh cream until fluffy. Sweeten with a bit of sugar.

4. Combine. Add the whipped cream to the orange mixture and gently fold. Add the vanilla sugar. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking, more sugar or honey.

5. Biscuit Base. Crush ginger biscuits into small dessert bowls or glasses.

6. Assemble & Chill. Spoon the orange–quark mixture on top and let it settle in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.

To Serve:

Cold, creamy, citrusy, and fresh - a winter dessert made from sunshine, memory, and wonderful friendships.

Notes: Add on the top a slice of cut orange and sprinkles of the biscuits, or mint. The oranges really need to be juicy and fresh. The desert does last a few days in the fridge but best eaten on the day.

For more seasonal ideas, inspiration, and local life, explore our other pages.