Mandarin Cake opens in a new tab
Nothing is more refreshing than a juicy orange, tangerine or grapefruit, eaten out of hand or made into a Sunny Citrus Smoothie opens in a new tabfor breakfast, snack or dessert.
Since citrus is a winter fruit, many of my favorite holiday recipes rely on citrus for their “sparkly” flavor and crisp, fresh aroma, like Mandarin-Glazed Carrots opens in a new tab and Cherry, Orange and Pecan Coffee Cake opens in a new tab.Winter is the perfect season to indulge in a variety of fresh citrus fruits. Citrus ripens in the fall and early winter months making it readily available for a variety of winter menus, including salads and sides, mains, desserts and snacks. Here are some ideas and recipes:
Make citrus fruit salad; include all of your favorites! Try it with a sprinkling of unsweetened coconut flakes or a bit of raw honey and a sprinkling of nuts.
Enjoy citrus for dessert with a square of dark chocolate.
Pair with almost any variety of cheese. Hard, salty cheese adds wonderful balance and flavor to the sweet acidity of the fruit.
Stir into Greek yogurt, cottage or ricotta cheese and eat as is or with a bit of honey or sliced dates for a filling and satisfying breakfast.
Bake with citrus, like these seasonal Eggnog and Ruby Red Grapefruit Muffins opens in a new tab or this Mandarin Cake opens in a new tab.
Cut into rounds and serve with a leafy green salad for a beautiful presentation. This Orange and Fennel Salad opens in a new tab is gorgeous on a holiday table.
Add citrus to juice blends – great with green apple and parsley!
Dip citrus segments into sweetened cream cheese dip, or spread with your favorite roasted nut butter.
Use citrus zest to create zippy condiments like this Orange Gremolata opens in a new tab and blend citrus segments into salad dressings. We love the sweet-tart flavor of this Winter Greens with Roasted Citrus Vinaigrette opens in a new tab.
Dice and add to salsas or stir into cocktail sauce for an easy, elevated party favorite like this Popcorn Shrimp with Clementine-Chipotle Cocktail Sauce opens in a new tab.
Add citrus segments to whole grain salads. I recently served Wild Rice Salad with Oranges and Currants opens in a new tab to dinner guests along with a roasted chicken and sautéed greens.
Speaking of sautéed greens, for a fun, quick meal, look no further than Sesame Orange Greens with Potstickers opens in a new tab.
Do you have a favorite citrus recipe? I’d love to know.
From carving with confidence to pouring with pride, our online Holiday Cheat Sheet opens in a new tab means more of your best for less stress. Order holiday meals online opens in a new tab too; we'll do the work, you'll take the credit.
