Best Ways to Use Citrus Right Now
pushenok/Getty Images
For most of the year, I like to eat fruits and vegetables that have been grown locally. But if I can say one thing about January, it’s that it’s a hard time of year to be a locavore in the northeast. Root vegetables and cabbage are pretty much the only things I can get that were grown in Vermont right now, which is why I love that it’s also citrus season. In Spain, California and Florida, citrus fruits are at their peak. The juicy yellow-, orange- and pink-fleshed lemons, oranges and grapefruit, respectively, are like a ray of sunshine in the middle of a dreary winter. While my favorite way to enjoy citrus has to be popping the easy-to-peel, ever-so-sweet clementines and satsumas like they’re candy, I also like to use citrus in recipes. Here are some of my favorites right now:
Roasted Salmon with Shallot Grapefruit Sauce : This quick and healthy recipe is perfect for a weeknight.
Arugula Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts and Fresh Grapefruit in a Citrus Agave Vinaigrette: This require no more than 10 minutes.
Roasted Beet and Grapefruit Salad: Elevate earthy beets with tart grapefruit.
Oranges and fennel: This super-simple combination will astound you with how good it is. Just slice rounds of peeled oranges and shave fennel on a platter, drizzle with a good-quality extra virgin olive oil, then scatter some salt, and you have a perfect appetizer for an Italian meal or healthy snack at any time.
Oranges with Amber Caramel and Candied Zest: Oranges are the star of this special dessert.
Sichuan Orange Beef: Really quick, really flavorful, this is a really good way to use oranges.
Sliced Orange Salad with Sauteed Olives and Ricotta Salata: The salty olives and ricotta salata are the perfect counterpoint to sweet oranges.
Lamb Stew with Orange: Nothing beats a warming lamb stew on a cold winter day.
Lemon-Scented Crispy Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Baby Carrots : This recipe is so simple, but so delicious.
Lemon Broccolini: Lemon is a classic way to enhance broccoli. Try it with broccoli’s cousin, Broccolini!
Lemon Rice: This South Indian rice dish goes well with seafood and vegetables.
Sopa de Lima : This Mexican chicken tortilla soup is an amazing alternative to chicken soup.
Cilantro Lime Pesto Pasta: It's a summery recipe, but sometimes that's what you need in winter.
Kerri-Ann is a registered dietitian and nutrition coach who writes on food and health trends. Find more of her work at kerriannjennings.com or follow her on Twitter @kerriannrd or Facebook.
