5 Winter Sweetz Recipes to Bring To The Next Friendly Gathering

It may seem like an odd ingredient to fine dining, but Texas Red grapefruits make the perfect addition to a number of tantalizing dishes that is guaranteed to please your palate with a fresh, sweet twist.

And the Winter Sweetz grapefruit season is about to kick off on in full gear, which means we’ll have plenty of unbelievably sweet grapefruit on hand to really help you zest up your dishes. Turn your meals from ‘Okay’ to ‘Oh, wow!’

Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here are a few amazing recipes that use our delicious Winter Sweetz Texas Red grapefruits. Impress your friends and family this holiday season with:

1. Cashew Chicken with Couscous and Grapefruit

If you’re in search of a vibrant meal, nothing is better than Cashew chicken with couscous. Pair it with a Winter Sweetz grapefruit and you have a savory fusion that is sure to keep your guests intrigued.

What to bring:

For the Cashew Chicken:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• ½ cup roasted salted cashews
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 eggs
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

For the couscous:

• 1 cup Israeli (pearl) couscous
• ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

For the salad:

• 3 cups baby arugula
• 2 Winter Sweetz grapefruit, peeled and segmented
• 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking pan with cooking spray. While the oven preheats, place your cashews into a food processor fitted with a blade attachment and pulse it until they are finely ground. If you don’t have a food processor, you can place the cashews in a Ziploc bag and run a rolling pin over them to crush them.
2. Place the ground cashews in a shallow dish, then add the breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper. Stir the dry ingredients until well combined, and in a second shallow dish, whisk the eggs. Dip the chicken thighs into the egg one at a time, shake off the excess and then dip and fold into the cashew mixture.
3. Next, place the prepared chicken thighs onto the baking pan and into the 400-degree oven, baking for 18-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F (turn only once).
4. Prepare the couscous according to the directions on the box. Mix in the parsley and mint.
5. Segment the Winter Sweetz grapefruit, and toss in a large bowl with arugula and the olive oil until it is well combined.
6. Divide the finished couscous between 4 plates, placing the finished cashew chicken thighs over the couscous and top it with the grapefruit salad, then serve.

Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 18 minutes
Serves: 4

2. Lunch Glow Bowl

If you are looking for something a little lighter, lunch glow bowls can satisfy any craving. This dish brings together a little taste of Asian cuisine with its ginger dressing and incorporates a nutrient-dense salad of lentils, beans, greens, rounding off with sweet Texas Red grapefruit.

What you’ll need:

For the Glow Bowls:

• ½ cup black or brown lentils
• 1 box baby spring mix
• 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced
• 2 Winter Sweetz grapefruit, peeled and segmented
• 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 8 ounces crumbled feta cheese

For the Ginger Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

What you’ll do:

1. To make the glow bowls, prepare the lentils as per the directions on the box.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, freshly grated ginger root, honey and sesame oil. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until it is all incorporated.
3. Divide the spring mix into 4 salad bowls, and top each one with avocado, grapefruit, beans, cheese, and lentils. Finally, serve the bowls with the ginger dressing and enjoy.

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4

3. Cowboy Caviar

While this dish has nothing to do with actual fish eggs, it presents a bevy of miniature nodules rich in both creamy and crunchy textures, paired with a salty, savory, and spicy flavor popular with those who want a little zing to their food. Adding a little bit of grapefruit rounds out the dish with a full scope of umami flavor.

What You Need:

• 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed Winter Sweetz grapefruit juice
• ½ cup Winter Sweetz grapefruit, peeled, segmented, and chopped
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons salad oil
• 1 minced clove of garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
• 1 can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
• 1 can corn kernels, rinsed and drained
• 2/3 cup green onions, sliced
• 2/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, minced (optional for an extra kick)

What you’ll do:

1. Mix the grapefruit juice, hot sauce, oil, garlic and pepper.
2. Add the remaining ingredients making sure to drain the black-eyes peas and corn.
3. Fold to coat.
4. Serve with chips.
5. Served perfectly with a nice grilled steak or chicken.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Serves: Up to 12 appetizers

4. Roasted Chicken Thighs with Grapefruit – Honey Glaze

The grapefruit-honey glaze of this dish seals in the juicy succulence of the chicken thighs and is sure to make your next barbecue truly memorable.

You need these ingredients:

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Kosher salt and ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 Winter Sweetz grapefruit, halved and sliced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup (or about 3 Winter Sweetz grapefruit) of grapefruit juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint

After you have gathered the ingredients:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until skillet is very hot. Pat chicken dry with paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Place the oil in the skillet. In batches if necessary ( do not crowd the skillet), place chicken skin-side down in skillet; cook 6 to 8 minutes or until skin is dark golden brown. Transfer chicken to plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
2. Transfer all chicken back to the skillet and arrange the grapefruit slices between and around the chicken pieces. Transfer skillet to oven and cook 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in grapefruit juice, honey, soy sauce and red pepper flakes. Increase heat to high and cook 10 to 12 minutes or until the mixture has reduced to a syrupy glaze. Remove from heat.
4. When chicken is cooked through, remove from oven and brush chicken with glaze. Serve sprinkled with mint.

Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 32 minutes
Serves: 4

5. Grapefruit Sangria

What’s a holiday get-together without a little bit of vino? If anything hasn’t piqued your friends’ and family’s interest by now, this will surely command their attention.

Grab:

• 1 bottle (750 ml) Pinot Noir
• 1 grapefruit, sliced thin
• 1 orange, sliced thin
• up to ½ cup (120 ml) simple syrup
• ¼ cup (60 ml) orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier

Then:

1. Combine all of the ingredients and refrigerate for 5 to 6 hours. No more than 12 hours or the wine becomes bitter. Adjust the simple syrup to your taste.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes, plus chilling
Serves: 6

Your Winter Sweetz team would also like to remind you to never drink and drive. Let’s keep the holidays safe and fun!

Winter Sweetz Texas Red grapefruits are on their way! Keep in contact with your local grocer to find out when Winter Sweetz will be in stock.

We dedicate all of our offseason time to making sure that your nearest grocery store is fully stocked with our delicious Winter Sweetz Texas red grapefruit.

Tell your favorite grocer to reach out to us today at (956) 424-7775 to make sure they order enough Winter Sweetz Texas Red grapefruits for you.