4 Dishes That Shine with A Splash of Citrus
I was roasting some Brussels sprouts the other night and was reminded that adding lemon at the end of cooking can add a bright, fresh flavor to a dish. This got me thinking about the myriad ways that Melissa’s organic citrus can make cooking so much better!
I guess the best way to describe it is that citrus “wakes up” a dish…and just about any citrus you choose will have a food partner that it will complement.
A few years back, I wrote about a wonderful grapefruit, avocado, and beet salad. The acid of the grapefruit perfectly complemented the fat of the avocado and the sweetness of the roasted beets. Now that I remember it, I’ll have to move that to the top of this spring’s recipe list!
Spring greens also benefit from the addition of orange or lemon. For instance, a good friend of mine’s go-to in the spring is to combine their favorite organic tangerines (with skin removed and cut into thin slices), two handfuls of shredded baby kale, a little sweet onion sliced very thin, some finely diced celery, and a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil—all mixed together and topped with chopped almonds and salt and pepper. Certainly, it sounds worth a try to me!
I’m sure you’ve also observed that many Mexican dishes are served with limes to help cut the fat and enliven the flavors.
If you’re a radish fan, you can’t go wrong with this watermelon radish salad with cilantro-lime dressing as a side dish or main course. While I haven’t tried it, I understand that orange makes a wonderful marinade that can help tenderize meat. Okay…I’ll add this citrus-ginger chicken to my recipe list, too!
It’s well known to my long-time readers that I enjoy oatmeal and pancakes on a weekly basis. This apple citrus compote is an absolute winner to top either of these any day of the week.
Every day, I enjoy a cup of green tea in the afternoon, which always includes a squeeze of organic orange or tangerine juice, depending on which is best tasting and in season. Right now, it would be a sweet tart tangelo or Pixie tangerine. Not only does it enhance the flavor, but the citrus addition has well-documented health benefits.
I think you get the idea and hopefully are inspired to bring more of Melissa’s organic citrus into your kitchen this spring. I know I am, and now I’m hungry for my neighbor’s lemon poke cake, so it’s time to dive into the dessert recipe file!
