20 Blood Orange Recipes to Make Winter More Bearable (2024)

FAQs

Is blood orange a winter fruit? ›

Blood Oranges show up every winter with their brilliant color and sweet, complex flavor with just a suggestion of berry in it. Look for fruits that feel heavy for their size and know that the intensity of the red inside varies tremendously depending on the variety, growing season, and more.

Use blood oranges for zesty flavour in a range of sweet and savoury dishes. This striking citrus fruit is delicious in cakes, desserts, salads and drinks.

Blood oranges are also full of potassium. It's important to get enough potassium in your diet, but too much can cause problems for people who have been prescribed beta-blockers. These medications increase potassium levels as well, which can result in damage to your heart in excess.

Long popular in Italy and Spain, these ruby-hued oranges are now being cultivated in Texas and California. Available from December to April, blood oranges are often both sweeter and less tart than other types of oranges, with a pleasantly bitter edge.

Sweet oranges of all varieties also are likely to withstand cold to 28 degrees, as are kumquats and blood oranges. Yuzus are the hardiest citrus, withstanding temperatures down to 24 degrees. But lemons, citron and Oroblanco grapefruit are among the least cold-hardy, to just 32 degrees.

The two also have different growing seasons. Navel oranges grow and can be eaten year-round. Blood oranges harvest season is much shorter, and they are only available in the winter and early spring. Navel and blood oranges have slightly different tastes.

Blood orange pair well with all types of less acidic fruit. These kinds of fruits attenuate blood orange's tartness, therefore: apricots, figs, strawberries, lime, lemon, mango, apples, melon and peaches. A marriage with pineapple mitigates the sour and slightly sulphurous notes of this orange.

The high water content in the fruit promotes hydration levels in the body. As dryness is the main cause of hair frizz, blood orange works effectively to counter it, making the hair soft and manageable.

It's perhaps less well known that orange peels are also rich in several nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, and plant compounds like polyphenols. In fact, just 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of orange peel provides 14% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C — nearly 3 times more than the inner fruit.

The top fruits for lowering blood pressure include bananas, apples, pears, apricots, grapes, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, pomegranate, plums, prunes, avocado, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, tomatoes, citrus fruit, berries, and more.

What are the disadvantages of blood oranges? ›

In a world where fruits can be both dangerous and healthy, the side effects of Blood Orange can outweigh its health benefits. Their high citric acid content can cause digestive issues, especially for people who suffer from acid reflux or have sensitive stomachs.

Given their potassium content, oranges and orange juice likely need to be avoided or limited on a renal diet. Grapes, apples, and cranberries, as well as their respective juices, are all good substitutes for oranges and orange juice, as they have lower potassium content.

The anthocyanins – which give the orange its distinct maroon color – will only develop when temperatures are low at night, as during the Mediterranean fall and winter. Blood oranges cultivated in the United States are in season from December to March (Texas), and from November to May (California).

Start by cutting off the ends, score the skin from top to bottom. and carefully pull off the peel. Following the curve of the fruits. Slice the orange into rounds, remove any seeds and enjoy.

Because of their reddish-pink flesh, Cara Cara oranges are sometimes compared with blood oranges. Blood oranges, like Cara Caras, are also winter cultivars of Citrus sinensis. But the flesh of blood oranges is darker, ranging in color from a rosy pink shade to red, maroon, and a deep purplish, nearly black hue.

Available from December through April, blood oranges thrive in temperate climates. They are grown primarily in California, Florida, Italy and Spain's Mediterranean region; however, some sectors of Arizona and Texas produce them as well.

Winter fruit and vegetable varieties include apples, pears, citrus fruits, kiwi, grapes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and potatoes. These produce items are grown during the colder months of fall and winter.

Peak Season

Depending on the variety, the month range may fluctuate, but there will always be a type of citrus fruit at its peak. Navel oranges are best from December until March, blood orange varieties are the best from December until April, and clementines and tangerines are the best between late October and January.