One of the best parts about winter is all of the new seasonal produce, like pomegranates, kale, sweet potatoes, squash, and citrus. Quite unknown among the citrus family is the blood orange. Don’t freak out – no blood was involved in the making of this orange. While they are orange on the outside, it is their trademark, ruby red flesh that gives them the name.
Often times people refer to the taste as orange with a slight hint of berry, but it is hard to put a finger on exactly what makes this type of orange so gosh darn tasty. If you’ve never tried a blood orange before, get your hands on one while they are in season from December to May, and I guarantee you will come running to this list of mouth-watering ways to use them:
1. Blood Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Photo courtesy of jessfuel.com
You can never go wrong by starting your day off with pancakes, especially when they involve blood orange, strawberry, and ricotta.
2. Kale and Blood Orange Salad
Photo courtesy of ahouseinthehills.com
It’s just as nutritious as it is beautiful.
3. Blood Orange Cream Filled Doughnuts
Photo courtesy of cookienameddesire.com
Dunkin’ ain’t got nothing on these babies.
4. Wheat Berry Salad With Blood Oranges, Feta, & Red Onion Vinaigrette
Photo courtesy of thekitchn.com
Don’t question the cheese and blood orange combination. It’ll blow your mind.
5. Chocolate Cupcakes with Blood Orange Buttercream
Photo courtesy of lifeloveandcupcakes.com
Chocolate and orange is a match made in heaven. Chocolate and blood orange? Even better.
6. Roasted Broccoli & Crispy Tofu Bowls with a Blood Orange Soy Glaze
Photo courtesy of withfoodandlove.com
A recipe you can easily cozy up to on a chilly day.
7. Blood Orange Tartlets
Photo courtesy of blog.williams-sonoma.com
Delicious and classy. What more could you ask for?
8. Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Photo courtesy of azestybite.com
This citrusy dressing is an easy, go-to way to jazz up any salad.
9. No-Churn Blood Orange Ice Cream
Photo courtesy of hellowonderful.co
Almost everything tastes better in the form of ice cream (and it’s a major bonus that you won’t even need an ice cream machine).
10. Blood Orange Miso Glazed Broiled Salmon
Photo courtesy of foodiewithfamily.com
You’ll question why you haven’t been eating this glaze on salmon your entire life.
11. Blood Orange Margaritas
Photo courtesy of edibleperspective.com
If anything, you won’t turn down trying blood orange if it is mixed with alcohol.
12. Roast Winter Veg Salad with Blood Oranges & Goat Cheese
Photo courtesy of mattersofthebelly.com
Roasted veggies, goat cheese, and blood oranges are the makings of a perfect winter salad.
13. Blood Orange Ricotta Cookies
Photo courtesy of christinascucina.com
A yummy twist on a typical lemon ricotta cookie that even your Italian grandmother will approve of.
14. Citrus Marinated Chicken with Blood Orange Harissa
Photo courtesy of tangandspice.com
This recipe takes harissa, a spicy condiment found in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine, to a whole new level.
15. Blood Orange Mini-Muffins
Photo courtesy of bakingamoment.com
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself using the fact that they are small as justification to eat an entire muffin tin worth.