Saturday 14 January 2012

Everybody Citrus Down!

Insalata di Agrumi Invernale alla Menta e Melograno
Winter Citrus Salad with Mint and Pomegranate


Yes it's a fruit salad, but no, it is not a dessert- it's an appetizer! And pretty appetizing it is too, this combination of Sicilian blood-orange, pink grapefruit, tangerine, "Cedra" lemon, mint and pomegranate! It is as simple as can be to prepare and a refreshingly different starter to enjoy in the Winter months... so what are you waiting for- let's get started!

The only unusual ingredient here, is the "Cedra", which is an Italian "eating-lemon" and can easily be twice the size of a large grapefruit. You are thinking to yourself- where is the lemon in those photo's, right? Well, the thing with the Cedra, is that you do not eat the flesh of the fruit, but rather, the white layer surrounding it. To prepare it, first cut away the outer layer of yellow peel as thinly as possible. Now cut the Cedra in half and scoop out the actual fruit itself with a spoon- this is as sour as a regular lemon- or even more so! But the remaining white "pith", is mild, lemony and delicious and made for a nice addition to the other fruits.


Obviously, there is not much else to do in way of preparation for the other fruits. They are simply peeled and the segments are cut out, making sure to cut around the membrane and to get clean filet-slices. Except for the tangerines of course, which remain as they are. Arrange on a plate with a scattering of mint leaves and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds and season with salt, pepper, a little sugar, olive oil- and that my friends is IT! So, if you are wondering what a typical taste of Sicilian Winter might be- it may well be something like this! Buon apetito!

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