In the heart of winter, citrus can be a tart zing of sunshine (and a burst of color on your plate). Some of the citrus fruits that are in season in winter are clementines, grapefruit, mandarins, oranges, pummelos and tangerines. These fruits are all full of Vitamin C and fiber, which can help our bodies store energy and stay healthy during a time of year when we need it the most.
Winter Citrus Recipes to Bring Some Zest to Your Plate
Thyme, Oregano, and Citrus Roast with Cornish Hens
This roast from Diana Henry’s Mediterranean-inspired cookbook, Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons, is a perfect winter meal. It also makes a great culinary project for those times you’re stuck inside. Placing orange wedges in the oven with the Cornish hens allows the citrus to mix with the juices from the meat—truly mouthwatering.
Citrus and Fennel Marinated Olives
Here’s another snowy day project. Marinating these Castelvetrano olives in orange and lemon zest balances out their buttery flavor. Put these olives in a jar and bring them as your contribution to a winter gathering. They’re both delicious and healthy.
Citrus Salmon Carpaccio with Green Goddess Sauce
Our Citrus Salmon Carpaccio with Green Goddess Sauce is probably the ultimate winter citrus recipe. You’ve got cara cara orange, blood orange, lemon, lime, and regular old orange all together. Using sushi-grade salmon is an important part of this recipe, as you’re eating it raw alongside the citrus.
Citrus Curd Cups
Want to balance citrus out with sweetness? You can make these Citrus Curd Cups with the zest of any citrus of your choice, and combines both zest and juice for a dessert that both satisfies your sweet tooth and refreshes your palate.
Beet Carpaccio with Citrus Vinaigrette
Here’s more Carpaccio, because once you make it once, you’ll realize it’s easier than it seems. The citrus vinaigrette on top of this beet carpaccio helps to bring out these colorful vegetables’ complex, earthy flavor and tangy acidity. You could ever combine this with the technique from the Salmon Carpaccio and throw in a few citrus slices.
Citrus and Kale Salad With Fig and Honey Vinaigrette
This salad is full of fiber from the kale, radicchio, fennel, and pine nuts. The juicy orange slices and delectable grapefruit wedges take what could be a vegetable mishmash and help give it an extra savory flavor. Part of what makes citrus in salad such a winning combination is that it prevents the salad from being too bland. For many dishes, citrus can be a flavor superhero!
Brown Rice and Lentil Salad with Citrus & Roasted Fennel
Lentils are a protein-rich, natural way to cut some meat out of your diet. Say goodbye to Impossible Burgers or Chik’n Nuggets, this is nature’s protein bar. The citrus in this recipe keeps the lentils from being too soggy and flavorless.
Citrus and Seed Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
The seeds and citrus in this salad make it healthy, textural and balanced. Citrus and pomegranate seeds are a perfect pairing with the combination of tangy zest and tart juice.
Baby Kale Salad with Citrus-Marinated Artichoke Hearts
This is a different way to use citrus than just tossing it into a salad. Artichokes have detoxifying properties that can help with liver function, and they are one of the highest fiber vegetables. We love artichoke hearts, and in order to bring out even more flavor, we marinated them in citrus zest.
Story by Emma Riva
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