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Made with lemon, orange, grapefruit, ginger, cardamom and thyme, this fragrant citrus simmer pot recipe offers a natural alternative to candles, plug-ins, and artificial sprays.
What Inspired This Citrus Simmer Pot Recipe?
I love finding ways to make my living space feel comfortable and cozy, and I find that fragrance plays an important role. At the same time, I’m not a big fan of artificial smells, ruling out many room sprays, candles, and air fresheners. (I do enjoy a reed diffuser, but they’re so expensive, and the smell only lasts for a short time.) So for me, it’s homemade simmer pots for the win. In addition to providing a natural alternative, simmer pots are extremely cheap, highly customizable, and easy to prepare using kitchen staples like spices, fruit, and fresh herbs.
This citrus simmer pot recipe features vibrant red grapefruit, lemon, and navel orange, all sliced thinly to release their citrus-y scents. Toss in slices of fresh ginger—no need to peel!—to enhance the citrus notes, plus a few sprigs of lemon thyme for a subtle herbal touch. Finally, I’ve added whole cardamom pods for a sweet, spicy warmth that ties all the ingredients together.
Ingredients for Making a Citrus Simmer Pot
To make your homemade citrus simmer pot, start by gathering the following:
- Red Grapefruit – I used red grapefruit, but white is equally fragrant.
- Lemon – You’ll need a whole lemon, cut into thin slices.
- Orange – One whole navel orange, cut into thin slices.
- Fresh Ginger – No need to peel, but do cut your ginger into 1/4-inch slices so it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the pot.
- Lemon Thyme – 3-4 sprigs, or more if desired. You can also use regular thyme.
- Cardamom Pods – Whole cardamom pods add a sweet, warm, and spicy note to this citrus simmer pot.
Simmer Pot Recipe Variations
I made my simmer pot with grapefruit, lemon, and orange, but feel free to experiment! Other citrus fruit (lime, kumquat, yuzu, blood orange, pomelo, bergamot) would also make lovely, fragrant additions to a stovetop potpourri.
Other simmer pot recipe ideas:
- Add other fruit or berries – You can make your simmer pot with blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, or redcurrant, or adding sliced pears or apples to the pot.
- Use different herbs – I think lemon thyme blends particularly well with the citrus scents, but feel free to swap it for rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, or mint.
- Mix in some spices – Try cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, or even a whole vanilla pod.
The Best Pot for a Simmer Pot
To make this citrus simmer pot, you’ll need a large pot. I like to use a large stock pot (the kind you’d use for making homemade soup) but a medium saucepan will also work. I frequently make mini simmer pots—just halve the ingredients and reduce the amount of water, so everything fits in the saucepan.
Re-Using Your Homemade Simmer Pot
After you’ve assembled and enjoyed this citrus simmer pot, you can save and re-use it 1-2 more times. Remove from the stove and cover the pot with a lid, then top up with fresh water when ready to reuse.
Simmer Pot Recipe Safety
Do not leave your simmer pot unattended on the stovetop. Stay nearby so you can keep an eye on the stove, and add more water to the pot as needed. Do not allow your citrus simmer pot to run out of water, and be careful if you have young children or pets nearby.
Also, even though this simmer pot contains edible ingredients, it’s meant to be smelled rather than ingested. After enjoying the scent, drain the liquid, then toss the water-logged fruit and and spices in the food waste or compost bin.
Other simmer pot recipes you might enjoy:
Rose Simmer Pot
Spring Simmer Pot
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
Citrus Simmer Pot Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 simmer pot 1x
Description
A fragrant citrus simmer pot recipe with lemon, orange, grapefruit, ginger, cardamom and thyme.
Ingredients
1/2 red grapefruit, sliced
1 whole lemon, sliced
1 whole orange, sliced
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, cut into 1/4-inch slices
3–4 sprigs fresh lemon thyme (or regular thyme)
10–15 whole cardamom pods
Instructions
Fill a large saucepan or stock pot with water, allowing a few inches of room at the top to add your ingredients.
Add all ingredients to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer on the stovetop.
Simmer over low heat for as long as desired, topping up with additional water as needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Miscellaneous
- Method: Stovetop
