Holiday Cooking with Grapefruit

Holiday meals are full of rich, savory dishes and sweet desserts. If you have a family member who has diabetes or another health condition that requires them to be very careful when it comes to eating rich or sugary foods grapefruit is the answer to your holiday cooking dilemma. You can use grapefruit in savory dishes instead of heavy sauces, and you can sweeten baked good by using grapefruit juice instead of water and processed sugar. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are great for holiday cooking because the light, refreshing taste of oranges, tangerines, lemons and grapefruit is a great contrast to traditionally heavy or rich dishes. Make some of these grapefruit dishes and beverages this holiday season to give your guests a sugar free alternative to other dishes:

Grapefruit Compote- This is a great breakfast dish that can be served on pancakes, french toast, or scones for a holiday treat without all the sugar. Simply mix peeled grapefruit segments, grapefruit juice and orange juice with a little vanilla extract or some powdered vanilla bean and grill until it has a jam like consistency. Your guests will love this easy to make and healthy holiday treat. It’s also a good breakfast for kids when you don’t want to feed them doughnuts or other pastries. It can be made all year round but it’s especially yummy during the holidays.

Grapefruit Spritzer – For people avoiding alcohol, sugar, or for kids this simple holiday drink will add some festivity to the holidays without being overly fussy or complicated to make. Just add fresh squeezed grapefruit juice to some sugar free ginger ale and chop up some fresh mint as a garnish. You can also use seltzer water with a splash of orange juice instead of ginger ale. Using Clementine or Honeybell juice will add a nice flavor twist that will complement the grapefruit perfectly. Make up some big punch bowls full of this tasty spritzer for holiday weddings to save money on alcohol without skimping on the quality of the beverages offered.

Grapefruit Goat Cheese Appetizer -This simple appetizer is a great low calorie alternative to high calorie and high fat dips and snacks. Just grill some peeled grapefruit segments with some thinly sliced beets with a little extra virgin olive oil. Arrange the grapefruit and the beets on a serving plate and toss some crumbled goat cheese over the top. Serve with crackers or alone for an exotic and festive holiday treat.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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