It’s a new year, so it’s a new opportunity to try new foods and eat healthy (at least until the next holiday season, right?) This year, my resolution is to master a different food each month. We’re talking learn everything to know about how to cook a certain food; test out multiple recipes featuring said food item; and integrating it into my current rotation of nightly dinner specialties. I think I probably speak for a lot of people out there when I say that cooking ruts are real. And sometimes whipping up the same potato salad and seared pork chops (no matter how delicious they are) gets monotonous. So this year, it’s on to pushing myself to being more creative and adventurous in the kitchen. Because really, why not?
Today, we’re going to talk about grapefruit. It’s probably safe to say that pretty much everyone has at least tried a grapefruit at some point in their life. But when it comes to cooking, my experience with grapefruit has been pretty much limited to slicing it in half, drizzling some honey on top, and digging in. And while that’s certainly not a terrible way to eat a grapefruit, it is a little boring. So let’s explore other ways to cook with this tasty citrus fruit!
For starters, if you need a quick prep on how to section citrus fruits, check out this post, along with the video, to get up to speed.
Now, let’s get started.
Salads and Slaws
Grapefruit is a little sour and a lot tangy, so pairing it with more savory components can really make a meal pop. A favorite that we’ve tried recently is pairing grapefruit with avocado. Something about the creaminess of avocado really helps mellow out the grapefruit and it works beautifully together. Mix avocado, thin rings of raw onion, and grapefruit with pine nuts and baby spinach and toss it with a light lemon vinaigrette for a great lunch or a light dinner. It even pairs well with fish, so spritz a little salmon with lemon, bake, and have some grapefruit salad on the side.
Breads and Muffins
Muffins come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, so it’s not much of a stretch to try to replace blueberries and cranberries with moist chunks of grapefruit. The water content adds moisture to the muffins, and the tart flavor of the grapefruit offers a more interesting take on your standard ‘ole muffin. You can also add grapefruit into sweet breads and even pair the fruit with nuts for a breakfast bread that’s perfect for a meal on the go or a casual brunch.
Baking and Desserts
Now for something more obvious, grapefruit works exceptionally well with desserts. It’s sweet and tart and can actually be used in so many ways as a substitute for pie fillings, inside puff pastries (yum!), and even in cookie dough. In fact, pairing a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe with the crispness of grapefruit chunks is actually pretty fantastic. In fact, you can find a recipe for one here.
If you’re ready to try some grapefruit in action, try this Asian Chicken Salad recipe for a different spin on dinner. And make a little extra, because it’s even better the day after!
