23 Grapefruit Recipes to Perk Up Your Day
Nothing wakes up a plate like these tangy-sweet grapefruit recipes. As far as citrus fruits go, the bulbous beauties may be the most unsung. But we think it deserves way more attention, given how bright and bracing it is. Whether it’s old-school broiled grapefruit with brown sugar for brunch, a zippy cocktail made with fresh grapefruit juice for happy hour, or a grapefruit salad made with juicy, colorful segments, it’s a fruit that instantly adds spunk to whatever you’re serving. No matter which variety you gravitate toward, seek out the heaviest pink, ruby red, and white grapefruits when shopping—more weight means more juice.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton3/23Paloma
Often made with bottled soda, this DIY paloma starts with fresh grapefruit juice, then gets a shot of tequila, a smidge of simple syrup, a touch of lime juice, and some club soda to finish. To make a big batch for your next party, simply change the ounces to cups.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Maggie DiMarco5/23Festive Red Cabbage and Radicchio Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi6/23Sheet-Pan Halloumi With Avocado and Citrus
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Stephanie Yeh7/23Guava-Grapefruit Possets
Just like magic, the acidity in grapefruit juice gently thickens and sets the cream in these rich, velvety, and vibrant puddings, which require very little prep time to assemble. Bonus: This trick works with lime and lemon juice too.
Photograph by Doaa Elkady, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker10/23Grapefruit Crudo
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susan Spungen, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski12/23Grapefruit Bars With Candied Zest
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca13/23Salty Grapefruit Refresher
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski16/23Cynar Spritz
If this is your first time trying Cynar, the herbaceous Italian bitter liqueur, this is a great place to start. It’s the ultimate match for bittersweet grapefruit juice in this quick and simple prosecco spritz.
18/23Avocado and Grapefruit Salad With Edamame
Pink grapefruit segments bring pops of color to this oh-so-green salad. Toast the pistachios used for garnishing beforehand on a baking sheet in the oven, if you have time, for superior crunch and to deepen their nutty flavor.
Marcus Nilsson20/23Grapefruit Brûlée
A culinary torch is the best way to caramelize the sugar and transform it into a crunchy, candy-like shell, but you can also make this classic breakfast treat by broiling it.
Christina Holmes21/23Grapefruit Chermoula
This riff on the spicy North African green sauce chermoula tosses chunks of pink grapefruit, freshly grated ginger, and a drizzle of honey into the mix to add sweet-tart flavor and warmth. Try it spooned over grilled chicken or fish or piled on avocado toast.
Photo by Alex Lau22/23Spicy Grapefruit Shandy
The sweet and tangy mix of fresh grapefruit juice, chopped pickled ginger, and pickled ginger juice transforms just about any average beer into a refreshing shandy. You can also combine it with seltzer for a fun mocktail.
Juco23/23Sorbet in Grapefruit Cups
This grapefruit recipe is more of a solution for what to do with your excess rinds. Instead of composting them, fill them with store-bought sorbet, then re-freeze and slice them into wedges to serve at the end of a summer party.
