Just as it seems like winter will drag on forever, we are graced with glorious citrus! Oranges, satsumas, mandarins, grapefruit, lemons, and limes arrive just in time to deliver a zesty antidote to all those rich winter meals and grey days.
Winter citrus season runs between December and March, bringing the most flavorful, diverse and nutrient-dense citrus fruits of the year. This winter sunshine offers a delightful way to brighten up meals and snacks. It feels like a real winter blessing!
Citrus is packed with fiber and, of course, Vitamin C to help support the immune system during the peak cold and flu season.
Exploring the Citrus Rainbow
Those ever-present orange slices tucked into school lunches can elicit a big yawn from kids, so mix it up with a sweet, easily peeled satsuma or a mandarin. As an aside, save and dry the thin rind of these varieties to mix into tea blends. They’re really tasty.
Citrus season offers a profusion of citrus to explore:
- Blood Oranges are often a huge hit with kids who love the “vampire” or “sunset” colors. I like to put on a Dracula accent when I talk to the kids about blood oranges. “Would you like a blooood orange?” I enjoyed the puzzled looks that turn into a roll of the eyes by the end of the season.
- Cara Cara Oranges look like standard Navels, but inside they reveal a very pretty pinkish-red hue and a remarkably sweet, low-acid flavor.
- Kumquats are tiny, grape-sized fruits that are a “kitchen dare” favorite. You eat the whole thing—skin and all! The skin is sweet while the inside is quite tart, a surprising flavor explosion.
- Pomelos: The giant cousins of the grapefruit are fun for kids to handle simply because of their massive size and thick, soft rinds.
A Citrus Taste Test
Get the kids involved in the world of citrus by asking for their opinion. Set out a selection of thinly sliced or segmented oranges and other tasty citrus – Naval, satsuma, cara cara, blood orange, Meyer lemons, and any others on hand. Line them up on a cutting board or platter, then sit down together to taste and share opinions about them.
A simple system of thumbs up/sideways/down is effective for younger kids, but you may be surprised by the assessment abilities of older kids. It can be a surprisingly fun activity.
The following recipe is a Chef-K favorite. The dressing is extremely versatile. Use it year round for all types of salads and marinades.
Winter Cabbage Salad with Zesty Lime Dressing
Zesty Lime Dressing
2 tblsp fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tblsp olive oil
½ tsp salt (or to taste)
Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, and ½ tsp salt in a small bowl or jar. Set aside.
Salad
¼ small head white cabbage, thinly sliced
¼ small head red cabbage, thinly sliced
4 small green onions, thinly sliced
2 Mandarins or tangerines or 1 orange, peeled and divided into sections
1 jalapeno pepper deveined, seeded, and minced (optional)
Zesty Lime Dressing
Combine all ingredients. Eat up!