With the holiday season fast approaching, you may already feel like the selection of healthy foods is on the decline – heartier meals are in season as are the usual holiday candy and pastries. However, there is one seasonal treat you don’t want to miss. Starting this month, red grapefruit from Texas and Florida should be making its way to a produce aisle near you. Low in calories (merely 60 calories per half) and high in scintillating flavor, grapefruit is a must-have for your health-conscious quest to eat better despite the high-calorie holiday fare. Here are few tangy-sweet recipes courtesy of TexaSweet Citrus Marketing.
Red grapefruit recipes
Frosty Texas Refresher
Serves 4
A delicious wake-me-up that rivals the typical morning glass of juice.
Ingredients:
2 red grapefruit
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 cup pineapple sherbet
1 to 2 tablespoons honey
Grapefruit wedges for garnish
Directions:
Juice grapefruit and measure out 1-1/3 cups for this recipe, save the remaining juice for another use. In a blender, puree juice, strawberries, sherbet and 1 tablespoon honey. Sweeten with more honey, if desired. Pour into glasses and garnish with grapefruit.
Grapefruit and Mint Salsa
Makes 2 to 3 cups
Tired of tomato-based salsas? You’ll love this fresh grapefruit and mint rendition. The salsa’s sprite flavors are delectable paired with mild flavored fish or chicken. You can even puree it with cream cheese for a festive dip.
Ingredients:
2 red grapefruit, peeled and sectioned, reserve 2 tablespoons juice
12 fresh mint leaves, tightly rolled, thinly sliced crosswise
1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimento, drained
1 fresh jalapeno, minced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt to taste
Directions:
Cut the grapefruit sections into chunks and place in a large bowl. Add mint, pimento and jalapeno. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons reserved grapefruit juice and olive oil. Pour over grapefruit mixture and toss to coat. Season with salt and serve at room temperature.
Texas Turkey Salad
Serves 4
A light lunch on those busy days you need to keep up your energy. The combination of protein from the poultry and the healthy carbs from the grapefruit becomes a satisfying and refreshing midday meal.
Ingredients:
3 red grapefruit
2 cups cooked, chopped turkey or chicken
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 tablespoons sliced green onion
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 drops hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup regular or lite mayonnaise
Directions:
1. Halve 2 of the grapefruit. With a curved knife, loosen and remove sections, letting them fall into a large mixing bowl. (Squeeze remaining juice and reserve for another use.)
2. Pull out and discard membrane from grapefruit peels (making a bowl). Arrange bowls on a tray. Add remaining ingredients to mixing bowl containing grapefruit and toss to blend.
3. Spoon salad into grapefruit bowls, dividing evenly. Peel and section remaining grapefruit and use sections for garnish. Chill until serving time.
Skinny Cheesecake from Texas
Serves 6
The bold tangy-sweetness of the grapefruit paired with the creamy texture of Neufchatel makes this a deceivingly healthy dessert.
Ingredients:
4 red grapefruit
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 (8-ounce) package Neufchatel cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
Directions:
1. Halve and juice 3 of the grapefruit to make 1-3/4 cups juice and set aside. With a spoon, scrape membrane out of grapefruit peel, making bowls. Peel and remove sections from remaining grapefruit and reserve for garnish.
2. In a small saucepan, soften gelatin in cold water, then dissolve over low heat. Set aside. Puree cheese, sugar and grapefruit juice in a blender.
3. With blender motor on low, add dissolved gelatin and blend 5 seconds. Pour mixture into reserved grapefruit shells. Chill until firm. Before serving, garnish with reserved grapefruit sections.
For more citrus-kissed recipes, visit TexaSweet.com.
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