Savor the Season

Citrus are invading the farmers market. Other than shiny, sweet winter apples, citrus fruits rule the market right now. The farmers invite you to taste a slice of tangy/bitter grapefruit to sweet orange or whatever they carry for the season. Strolling around the cold winter morning and taste little bit of that fruit and this... Hah, we cannot get that experience in grocery store where all are neatly packed and arrange to be picked! If you have a kid , probably a fun way to teach him/her what is available through the season! But mine is pretty interested to get his kettle sweet popcorn every time he visits! Oh yeah, he eats popcorn for breakfast!
I couldn't go unnoticeable when I saw the bleeding orange slices. The orange flesh has a deep garnet color and taste a sweet orange flavor with raspberry after taste! Just imagine a hybrid fruit with the taste of orange and raspberry! Blood orange is originated from Sicily but now grown in US, Moro is grown in CA! 

There are three varieties:

Moro: Newly found variety, distinguished as deep garnet/ blood flesh, the outer exterior slightly red, the rind is thick not easy to peel and seedless.
Sanguinello: Discovered in Spain, contains few seeds and the interior flesh is mix of orange and red strikes and have a blushed red exterior too!
Tarocco: Most popular table fruit in Italy and considered the most flavorful.

I ve tasted the first two varieties: both are less acidic and extremely juicy! I bought sanguinello in Trader joe. A pound/lb cost around 2 dollars.



Citrus salad with blood orange vinaigrette

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Blood orange: 2 - only segments
Navel orange: 1 only segments
Green mix: 2 cups
Sunflower seeds: few

How to segment?
Cut the top and bottom of the orange. Go around the orange and remove the skin with pith, follow the curve of the fruit. Once you have removed the skin.
Take a bowl and holding firmly, with a pairing knife, go in between the membrane of the fruit to remove the segment.

Arrange the greens and fruits , sprinkle the seeds and drizzle the vinaigrette.



Blood orange vinaigrette:

Blood orange: Juice of one orange
Olive oil: 1 tsp
Salt: a dash
Pepper: freshly ground

Whisk the orange juice, oil, salt and pepper together and drizzle over the salad.



A seductive non-alcoholic Drink: Blood orange spritzer

Blood orange juice: from 3 oranges
Chilled soda/lime soda-7-up/sparkling fruit juice: I used lime soda
Fresh mint: few

Muddle the mint using mortar and pestle to release the oil.
Mix 1/3 blood orange juice with 2 /3 of lime soda.
If using soda need to use simple syrup and zest lemon juice!


Alcoholic version:
Substitute soda with Champagne or sparkling wine!


The drink is very seductive and perfect for Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

*The salad goes to Sudeshna Who host: Salad Carnival
* Sending to Show me your salad by Divya