While many people begin to pucker their lips at the thought of grapefruit, I am one who is fond of this sour, citrus fruit. I can remember eating it when I was younger. Topping it with sugar or artificial sweetener was simply a part of the process. However, as an adult I’ve grown to like the tart, bitter flavor. I still like a bit of sweet with my sour, but much less than before.Grapefruit has popped up in the media several times throughout the years. Remember the “Grapefruit Diet”? It was one of those well-known fad diets promising rapid weight loss that simply required you to eat a structured diet each day with grapefruit or its juice at each meal. These diets always give me a laugh, because when you take a closer look you see that it is simply a reduction of calories that is causing the weight loss through a very structured meal plan. Somehow as a society we can’t seem to resist their appeal, though.
Even though I don’t believe in fad diets, I have no doubt that grapefruit is a miracle food. Let’s face it. Most fruits and vegetables are whether they act as the fountain of youth through age defying antioxidants or as active disease fighters via many vitamins and minerals.
While grapefruit on its own will not make all weight loss dreams come true, it will still greatly benefit our health. The first thing to point out is that when you have a choice pick the pink or ruby red varieties. As is true with most produce, colors indicate nutrients. While all grapefruits provide valuable vitamin C, the pink grapefruit flesh provides more vitamin A and is rich in the phytonutrient lycopene, also found in tomatoes. Lycopene is recognized as one of the strongest cancer-fighting antioxidants. In addition, current research is analyzing the grapefruit’s role in bone health possibly due to its antioxidant make-up.
Grapefruit is pretty much non-existent where we are living now. There is a market here that imports a variety from time to time, and last week there just happen to be some in when I stopped by. I typically steer clear of the imports because there is so much local variety to choose from, but I hadn’t had a grapefruit in so long and it sounded really good. Since there was no distinction on the sign, upon cutting it open I was happy to find that my grapefruit, was in fact of the pink/ruby variety.
I find that I like grapefruit in just about every form. I’ll eat it fresh, drink the juice, and I love those little grapefruit gummy slices; however, I am not kidding myself that latter hold any nutritional value. I addition, I love the smell and often use grapefruit scented lotion.
Despite my love of this fruit and its scent I’ve never experimented much with it. A few months ago I came across a tip in a magazine to try grapefruit broiled with some honey and walnuts. Not having tried warm grapefruit I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to give it a whirl.
It is outstanding! There is something about the heat that makes the tartness a bit milder and nothing can beat the combination of honey and walnuts. While not always a combination added to citrus fruit it actually fits quite nicely. Another thing I loved is that eating grapefruit this way turns it into more of a breakfast for all seasons. What I mean is that in the summer I like fresh, cold fruit, but in the winter I enjoy something warm. A warm grapefruit is a great way to eat fruit on a cooler morning when you need a little comfort food.
The preparation is easy. Simply cut your grapefruit in half and place it cut side up in a pan safe for broiling. Take knife and cut around the outer edge and each membrane. Drizzle the flesh with some honey and top with a few chopped walnuts. Broil for about 5 minutes or until the rind is slightly browned and serve warm.
I still have the other half in the fridge and I’m thinking maybe a salad is in order. I’ll be sure to share its final destiny later this week.
Resources:
Grapefruit pulp may boost bone health: study
Lycopene: An Antioxidant for Good Health (American Dietetics Association)
Facts about Citrus Fruits and Juices: Grapefruit (pdf) (University of Florida Extension)
WHFoods: Grapefruit
OW! I want to try this. I am going to pick some up this weekend 🙂 I love grapefruits and haven’t had one in ages. Thank you for the idea!!
Great information on grapefruits! I haven’t been a big fan of grapefruits growing up but my tastes are changing now and I am more fond of this fruit recently.
I’ve grown to love grapefruits all by themselves now, too, though I remember as a kid barely being able to eat it with tons of sugar on it.
Thanks for sharing, this sounds like something I will definitely be trying it.
So delightful!! They had a recipe for something like this in Clean Eating Magazine 🙂
Erica – That is how I was. It really hit the spot.
5 Star Foodie – It is definitely one of those foods that isn’t adored by everyone. I’m like you though, my tastes have changed over time.
lesley – Yeah, when you get away from the sugar I think you can really appreciate the flavor. Altough I do like a touch of sweeteness with it to balance it out.
VeggieGirl – Good to know. I found a few on the web that used some additional spices. They looked good as well.
I love grapefruit also! The second half to the one I ate yesterday is sitting in the fridge…I just might have to try this with it! Thanks for the tip!
I do remember the Grapefruit Diet 🙂
This sounds fantastic! I really enjoy grapefruit! It’s great in salads also!
I have grapefruit every morning, so learning all these amazing facts abt it got me so excited! but I’ve never tried them warm! sounds really interesting!
I have never had my grapefruit warm, I will have to try it!
Mmmmmm! I love Grapefruit. It looks delicious, have you tried in salads? It’s delicious, with fennel and Kalamata olives.
I love grapefruit but would never think to have it grilled! This looks great.
Whoa! Cool. I have been wondering where the heck the organic grapefruits are at my local store, can only find conventional lately…
My wife and kids love grapefruit! Great idea!
This is great! I’ve never been a great fan of grapefruit precisely because of its tartness (and an aftertaste that I can’t quite describe. I know that it’s got such great nutrients so it’s been a matter of grinning and bearing it. But now, this sounds really promising! (And I noticed that grapefruit are on sale this weekend at the local grocery!)
I’m with you 100%. I remember piling the sugar on as a kid and now I love it plain and puckery!! We always have grapefruit on hand and I love it! Great post!!
It doesn’t often come with my organic veg deliveries, but I do love ruby grapefruit, and generally eat it with no sugar added. I’m also sure that I’ve had warm grapefruit at sometime or other (though I can’t remember when exactly!) but I’ll be trying it out again when I next have some grapefruits in.
Grapefruit hasn’t gone down well with the ‘better half’-but,will take a chance and try it out this way!One never knows till one tries, right!?
I LOVE THIS and associate it with my dad.
He used to do this for the two of us all the time as the rest of the family turned their noses up at it 🙂
I bet it would be wonderful on the grill for a summer dessert
So glad you liked the idea and welcome to all my new commenters. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by!
Anna – I have tried it in salads and it is so great! Perfect with a dressing that is a little sweet.
Sweta – My husband isn’t a big fan, but that just leaves more for me. 🙂
Mizfit – That is awesome that you have such great memories. I love it when food brings that out in us.
kat – That is a great idea!
I would have never thought to do this with grapefruit, but it sounds out of this world! I’m definitely going to buy grapefruit and try this soon. Also, have you come across pomelo fruit in Brazil? If you don’t know it, t’s similar to grapefruit, though a lot bigger and less sour/acidic. It’s said to aid digestion, and is often eaten after meals in Vietnam. I love the stuff. Thanks for posting this!
This would be perfect for the grapefruit I have here at work…if I had the ingredients and an oven to broil it in. I really like grapefruit as is though, since I like sour fruits 🙂
whoa – never heard of this! it sounds delicious and refreshing…
That sounds deeeelicous!!! I love grapefruit!
grapefruit is totally a miracle food! it is miraculously delicious! i’ve never thought to have it warm. mmmm.
Sapuche – I haven’t had pomelo here, but thanks for mentioning it. I did a little research and I think it may have been at one of the booths at the feira last week. Although the kid working called it laranjao which translates to big orange. They tend to simplify food names like that a lot around here and it makes cooking a bit frustrating! 🙂
Marianne – I really enjoy sour fruits too!
lauren, Denise and Heather – It was so good! I would have never thought of doing it if I hadn’t seen the little magazine tid-bit.
My cousins reminded me recently that our grandmother used to broil her grapefruits and so we ate them that way in her honor….but with guava perserves while vacationing in the Bahamas. YUM!
Great blog! Be well, xo-Carla aka OneHealthyGirl.com
Hi Carla – Thanks for stopping by with your comment and thanks for sharing! I would have never thought to put guave jam on it. Goaba, as it’s called here, is everywhere. I may have to try that.