Grapefruit may not technically be a summertime fruit, but it’s delicious, not too sweet, and incredibly versatile. It works as breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, which is good news because it has tons of health benefits. Because it’s a great source of vitamin C, grapefruit helps fight cold symptoms and hangovers so you’ll be up and active all summer long. If you’re fed up with eating your grapefruit with a spoon, then these recipes will make your summer a whole lot simpler and sweeter.
1. Cinnamon, Ginger & Brown Sugar-Baked Grapefruit
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
This sweet treat can easily be dessert on any given night. But since it’s the summer, go ahead and treat yourself to a decadent breakfast. Cinnamon, ginger and brown sugar really compliment the grapefruit and will make you forget any other fruit even exists.
2. Grapefruit Sorbet
Photo by Astrid Goh
This 3-ingredient sorbet couldn’t be any easier. Whip up this ultimate lazy dessert to impress friends or just for yourself. It’ll satisfy any and all sweet craving you may have and refresh you on a hot summer day.
3. Grapefruit Dutch Baby
Photo by Phoebe Melnick
Forget pancakes, make this unbelievably beautiful breakfast dish for your next potluck brunch. It might be a bit more difficult than out-of-the-box pancakes but I promise you’ll look like a pro chef at your next get together.
4. Grapefruit Shrimp Salad
Photo by Christin Urso
Onto lunch. Nothing is more light and refreshing on a sweltering hot day than seafood. Aside from grapefruit, of course. This salad is the perfect go-to healthy lunch that can be prepared in advance. It’s much more interesting than a plain old caesar salad. C’mon, you’re (kinda) an adult now, time to step up your game.
5. Grapefruit and Mango Jell-O Shots
Photo by Judy Holtz
OK, so we’re not really adults yet, we can still whip up some Jell-O shots this summer. These refreshing shots will be way better than a heavy beer, and more fun too. They’re just vibrant and gorgeous enough to be Insta-worthy.
6. Grilled Grapefruit
Photo by Paulina Lam
Along with peaches, watermelon and pineapple, add grapefruit to the list of fruits that taste way better grilled. Fresh fruit is great but when it comes off the grill all warm and juicy, it just melts in your mouth. It’s a great campfire snack as well as backyard BBQ dessert.
7. Grapefruit Salsa Fish Tacos
Photo by Paulina Lam
Mexican food can tend to be on the heavier side, but not with this recipe. Grapefruit gives these already fresh fish tacos a much-needed semi-sweet flavour that might not be in your usual salsa recipe, but it will be after you try it.
8. Grapefruit Mimosas
Photo by Kelly Logan
Break out the booze. A classy brunch with family or friends definitely calls for grapefruit mimosas. This 2-ingredient recipe takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and will impress your guests. Plus, if you’re already a grapefruit fan, you could probably find everything you need for this recipe in your fridge.
9. Fennel & Grapefruit Salad
Photo by Max Bartick
It might seem plain but simplicity is what makes this salad so delicious. Grapefruit, fennel, and Pecorino Romano cheese are the stars of this dish and in just 15 minutes, you could be serving up this sophisticated dish.
10. Slim Juice
Photo by Jocelyn Hsu
Named for its ability to suppress your appetite, this juice will hydrate you and fill you up in no time. It’ll take you 5 minutes to mix up this recipe that combines grapefruit, lemon, lime, cucumber, mint, and water. Pour it in a to-go cup or sit outside and sip it while soaking up the sun.
11. College Style Grapefruit Beer
Photo by Natalie Van Brunt
This concoction utilises every college kid’s favourite ingredient: cheap beer. Grapefruit’s magic powers and agave’s natural sweetness is all this recipe calls for, so why wouldn’t you upgrade from shitty beer to classy cocktail?
12. Grapefruit Margarita Popsicles
Photo by Rafi Letzter
For a more pool-friendly snack, try out these boozy popsicles that are sure to keep you tipsy and refreshed. Keep a cooler of these babies right by the water so you and your friends can stay hydrated with tequila all day long.
13. Pistachio and Grapefruit Salad
Photo by Kelda Baljon
You can never have too many summer salad recipes in your back pocket, so here’s anotha one. What you see is what you get with this lunch option. Just combine these five super simple ingredients and you’ll be ready to eat in a few minutes.
14. Grapefruit Juice on the Rocks
Photo by Christin Urso
Nothing is easier than this one-minute cocktail. If you haven’t shifted into summer mode yet, this drink will definitely help you get there.
15. Sweet or Green Tie Dye Juice
Photo by Daisy Dolan
Sticking with the liquids, these juices are refreshing and nutritious. They include healthy vegetables like beets and carrots as well as ginger. The citrus flavour comes through nicely for those who aren’t that into drinking liquid lettuce.
16. Deep Eddy Grapefruit Frozen Lemonade
Photo by Christin Urso
Get into the summer spirit with another simple grapefruit cocktail recipe. This recipe gets all of its grapefruit flavour from a flavoured vodka, but nevertheless, it’s good. It really only uses two ingredients (plus ice) and if you swap out the flavoured vodka for the real thing, you could make this non-alcoholic as well.
17. Brûléed Grapefruit
Photo by Lara Schwieger
Three ingredients and an oven are all you need for this snack. Brown sugar and agave nectar add all the necessary sweetness to this dish. It’s a bit of a step down from the first recipe, but if you’re looking for something a bit easier or don’t have a stocked pantry, try this out.
18. Pimped Out Citrus Salad
Photo by Haley Durham
You can’t go wrong with lettuce and fruit. It’s an instant salad that is sure to deliver on the flavour. The best part is that you can make this anywhere anytime. You can throw this together at the dining hall or at home. As long as you have a knife and a bowl, you’re set.
19. Healthy Fruit and Granola Yogurt Bar
Photo by Eliza Wilkins
A DIY fruit and granola bar is kind of genius and I’m not sure why people don’t do it more often. You could really use any fruit you’d like but this recipe used grapefruit, oranges, and grapes. For a quick and easy breakfast platter, give this a go.
20. Grapefruit Dream
Photo by Christin Urso
More drinks, because summer. This drink is very similar to the last but it also calls for some real fruit juice. Again, it takes no more than one minute to prepare (and drink).
21. Grapefruit Mint Coconut Water
Photo by Nooreen Ismail
This delicious water promises glowing skin, a metabolism boost and electrolytes. Why drink boring water when you could throw this together in just ten minutes?