Uses for Texas Grapefruit

There are a few facts about Texas grapefruit that many people do not know. One is that the sweet red variety was originally grown in Texas after seeds were irradiated in college labs. The resulting hybrid seeds often bear the name Rio Red, Texas Sweetest or Texas Star. All are bright red, sweet and famous around the country. The Texas grapefruit variety also has more vitamins than their white and pink counterparts.

With this news, you may now be wondering how you can get more Texas grapefruit into your diet. There are several ways of doing this, some may be ways that you perhaps had never thought of before. It is always a good idea to try and expand your eating boundaries and see where you can take your taste buds. Texas grapefruit can help you do that. In fact, many recipes that call for lemons or limes can easily have Texas grapefruit substituted instead.

Of course, if the recipe in question is for key lime pie, them obviously you can not substitute Texas grapefruit for it. But for recipes that call for citrus because of the acidity or need the refreshing citrus to cut the fat in a particular dish, then you could try the grapefruit instead. It may actually taste better in some recipes and could inspire future cooking combinations and ideas as well.

Dessert is a place where Texas grapefruit was thought to not have a place. Most grapefruit is rather tart, but the deep red Texas grapefruit is actually sweet. Therefore, it lends itself well to both sweet and savory recipes. Try substituting it for strawberries in a pie, still using strawberry glaze and whipped cream. You may be very surprised at how much you like this new creation, which many Texas families have at the holidays, when Texas grapefruit is at the height of peak season.

Many people love to put slices of lime or lemon in their iced tea or glasses of plain water. Dieters especially do this because citrus is good for dieters in many ways. Try substituting a thin slice of Texas grapefruit instead. It makes a delicious addition to iced tea and water, and if you eat the fruit of the slice you will get a small shot of fiber as well. Did you ever think you could get fiber from your glass of water or iced tea? With Texas grapefruit, you can.

Of course, these are just a few suggestions about how to get more Texas grapefruit into your daily routine. This is by no means a comprehensive list, as other substitutions like marinades or vinaigrettes are possible as well with Texas grapefruit. The sky is truly the limit for this sweet and delicious fruit.

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