Seasonal Citrus:

 The Inside Scoop

While spring is springing, it’s still a bit nippy outside and we thought we’d give you the lowdown on some surprisingly still-in-season beauties. With great flavors and vitamin C, citrus fruits are ready to go, either fresh or with a new recipe. By knowing what’s in season, you’ll be ahead of the curve by selecting the tastiest delights and preparing some knockout dishes.

In-season citrus varieties include oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. For many of these orbital wonders, midwinter marks their seasonal flavor peak, so their season is still going strong. The selection process depends on your personal preference for juiciness, size, sweet or tart flavors, firm or soft flesh and peeling ease.

OUR SEASONAL CITRUS GUIDE

Blood Orange

Blood oranges aren’t as evil as they sound. In fact, they’re not evil at all. They’re actually more sweet than sour because they’re less acidic. They acquired the name by (you guessed it) having a deep red flesh color, which makes them a standout choice for garnishes. And they make an excellent substitute for ordinary oranges when making ice cream, sorbet or fruit salads. But if you really want to go crazy, squeeze the juice into ice trays and you’ll have some bloody tasty ice cubes. Pun intended.

Buddha’s Hand Citron

Okay, these lemons win our award for the strangest looking citrus fruits of any season. They’re said to resemble a hand, but we’re seeing all fingers, which actually gives them some great uses. They’re very aromatic, and with little to no flesh inside, they’re a killer substitute for lemon zest. And by slicing them, they can add a little zip to your brandy, olive oil or you can even candy them. Picking out the right ones is a breeze. Just choose ones that have a sweet, clean fragrance. And they’ll last up to four weeks in the refrigerator or two weeks at a cool room temperature. But be sure to get rid of them after that.

Clementine Tangerine

Did someone say seeds? Not in this house. In addition to being seedless, they are small, sweet and juicy. They pack an excellent amount of vitamin C and they are a good source of dietary fiber. And at only 40 calories each, these babies are a perfect treat all by themselves. Or feel free to get creative and add them to salads, desserts, or other dishes.

Cocktail Grapefruit

A hybrid from the Siamese Sweet pummelo and Frua mandarin, this grapefruit is juicy and relatively soft. So what’s the big deal, you ask? This grapefruit is sweet. Yep, the cocktail grapefruit is sweet and has a bright golden yellow flesh. But don’t go celebrating just quite yet. While it’s a great fruit, it still found a way to be a little persnickety. It comes with seeds and plenty of membranes. No biggie though. Just choose the larger ones to make cutting away the membranes easier and go with the smaller ones for juicing.

Meyer Lemon

It’s no coincidence that we chose the Meyer lemon to follow the cocktail grapefruit. Meyer is also sweeter and juicier than it’s standard edition. It has an extra rich flavor and a dark yellow juice. So what do you do with a sweeter, juicier lemon? Well, its biggest fans seem to be chefs who prize it for its versatility. It can be used to enhance flavors in entrees or it can be the key ingredient for that special dessert. And just like the rest of these citruses, it’s got health benefits. It’s cholesterol-free and is another great source of vitamin C.

SEASONAL CITRUS RECIPES

So that’s our round-up of seasonal citrus fruits. But don’t worry, we won’t leave you hanging. Here are some zesty recipes to keep it interesting, while this salad gives a whole new meaning to fresh and tangy. And we’d never leave you without a way to satisfy your sweet tooth.