Cooking is always more fun with a cocktail in hand! ;)
Central Iowa tapped out at a toasty 78 degrees again today, which inspired me to whip up a refreshing, ice-cold Grapefruit Mojito to sip on while making dinner this evening.
Now, you might think you don’t like grapefruit. Trust me, I get it. I used to feel the exact same way.
My 93 year old Grandma has had half a grapefruit sprinkled with sugar for breakfast every single morning for as long as I’ve known her, and whenever my family visited my grandparents in Ohio growing up, I’d ask for the other half so I could be just like her, even though I secretly loathed the bitter, acidic taste of grapefruit.
This is it! I’d coach myself before diving in. Your taste buds have completely altered themselves since the last time you were here 6 months ago, and you are a now a mature woman of 8. Let’s do this!
Despite the cute little spoon with serrated edges she’d give me to loosen the segments nestled inside the fruit, and the heaps of sugar I’d pour on top, I could never get past the pucker-inducing flavor, and usually aborted the mission after a few scoops.
Fast forward several decades later, I made an impulse purchase of a few Ruby-Red Grapefruits after spying the loveliest display of them I ever did see at the grocery store last week (I am such a sucker!)
After unloading my groceries I cut one in half, just like my Grandma did for me all those years ago, scooped out a segment, and hoped for the best. The verdict?
Sour, yes, but also much sweeter than I remembered – and SO juicy!
I think the secret lies within my matured taste buds and the type of grapefruit I bought, which was a Ruby-Red. Grapefruits come in white, pink and red, each sweeter than the next, and are at their sweetest in the late winter and early spring, aka right now. Look for grapefruit that are heavy for their size (which indicates an extra juicy fruit) and have a slight “blush spot” on the outside of the peel.
I’ve been craving mojitos like crazy recently, and thought a Grapefruit Mojito sounded like the epitome of refreshing, and a fun way to use the grapefruit I’ve now been been buying on the regular. I started the cocktail by segmenting one Ruby-Red Grapefruit.
I used the same technique as segmenting oranges!
Next, I muddled a few of the segments with fresh mint and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker.
After adding rum, some of the reserved grapefruit juice, and fresh lime juice to the shaker, I filled it 3/4 of the way full with ice and shook what my Mama gave me.
I poured the mixture into two glasses filled with ice, then topped ’em off with sparkling water. If you think you don’t like grapefruit, I bet this sweet-tart cocktail will change your mind!
I’m sorry, but mojitos just scream SUMMER! to me. It’s that fresh mint. I just love it!
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Grapefruit Mojitos
Description
Grapefruit Mojitos are a refreshing, flavorful way to enjoy grapefruit!
Ingredients
- 1 grapefruit, segmented & juice reserved
- 20 mint leaves
- 4 teaspoons agave nectar
- juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons grapefruit juice
- 3oz rum (2 shots)
- ice
- club soda
Directions
- Muddle 4 grapefruit segments, mint, agave nectar and lime juice in the bottom of a martini shaker with the end of a wooden spoon. Add grapefruit juice and rum, then fill the shaker 3/4 full with ice. Shake until very cold then evenly divide between two glasses filled with ice. Top with club soda then garnish with remaining grapefruit segments.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
After a few satisfying sips, I got to work on dinner – Grapefruit Chicken Satay. Oh yeah, we’re going all out on the grapefruit theme here, people!
Indian spiced chicken is sauteed then tossed with fresh grapefruit slices and drizzled with a quick peanut-based satay sauce. Sounds wacky, tastes nice!
Start by segmenting 2 grapefruits, then sprucing up sliced chicken breasts with an exotic array of spices including garlic powder, cinnamon, garam masala, ginger, ground mustard, salt & pepper.
Mix to coat the chicken evenly, then saute in a hot skillet until the chicken is no longer pink.
Meanwhile, make an easy satay sauce with peanut butter, soy sauce or gluten-free tamari (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce,) a tiny bit of sugar, chili garlic sauce, and reserved grapefruit juice.
Mix until silky smooth.
Place the cooked, spiced chicken over a bed of brown basmati rice, then top with the segmented grapefruit, and a drizzle of that satay sauce. Holy. Yum.
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Grapefruit Chicken Satay
Description
Grapefruit Chicken Satay is a savory, flavorful way to enjoy grapefruit!
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 2 large or 3 medium-sized chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- couple cracks/dashes of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 2 large ruby-red grapefruits, segmented & juice reserved
- 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- 5-7 Tablespoons reserved grapefruit juice
Directions
- Bring chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan, then stir in rice. Place a lid on top, reduce the heat to medium low, then cook until rice is tender, about 20-25 minutes.
- Season chicken strips with dry mustard, garlic powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, garam masala, salt and pepper in a large bowl, then mix to coat the chicken evenly. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add in the chicken and cook until no longer pink in the center.
- Segment the grapefruits over a bowl by cutting the tops and bottoms off the grapefruits, slicing the peel and pith off by following the curve of the fruit, then slicing in between the membranes to pop the segments out. Squeeze the remaining membranes to get all the juice out, then strain the juice into a separate bowl and set aside.
- Combine peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar and chili garlic sauce in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 15 seconds. Stir until smooth. Add 5 Tablespoons reserved grapefruit juice and stir to combine. Continue adding grapefruit juice 1 Tablespoon at a time until desired taste and consistency is reached.
- Divide cooked rice evenly among plates, then top with cooked chicken, grapefruit segments, and peanut satay sauce.
Notes
Slightly adapted from Eating Well
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
The grapefruit slices get nice and warm as they mingle with the spiced chicken and basmati rice, and totally mellow out from the heat. The salty peanut satay sauce is the perfect flavor compliment too. This is a great, easy dish to spice up a week night!
Sheila Falcucci 03.20.2012
My grandmother ate the same thing and lived to be 95. My dad has followed in her footsteps and hes 68 and the picture of health so there is something to this grapefruit thing……..enjoy the journey, luv your page : )
Rachel 03.20.2012
This mojito was definitely one of the best cocktails I have ever had! I can’t wait to share these recipes with my husband!
Theresa 03.19.2012
I just died and went to nom heaven. This dish is amazing. Thanks for another success!
Drink Ideas | Pearltrees 03.19.2012
[…] Cocktail Hour: Grapefruit Mojito & Chicken Satay | Iowa Girl Eats Central Iowa tapped out at a toasty 78 degrees again today, which inspired me to whip up a refreshing, ice-cold Grapefruit Mojito to sip on while making dinner this evening. […]
Pamela Roop 03.19.2012
These dishes look beautiful and tasty. For those who don’t know there is now a beautifully packed 1/2 gal of segemented jar of gratefruit (in the cool veggies/fruit section) of your local grocery (if no where else Walmart). They have a regular jar and a “no sugar” jar. The no sugar jar is wonderful without sweetening. I use “Ideal” sweetner when necessary. I drink and eat the “no sugar” one daily without sweetening!! I have a unusually sweet “tooth” and am also diabetic :).
Elizabeths 03.15.2012
Just finished off my 2nd glass of the mojito! Oh man it was gooooooood and my husband loved it too. Gotta buy more limes tomorrow so I can make more for this coming weekend :) Love your recipes!
Justine Duppong @ Life With Cheeseburgers 03.15.2012
Your grammy is so cute! Makes me miss mine :)
I’ve been meaning to try broiled grapefruit. My hubby goes through a huge bag every week but I tend to stick to my frozen strawberries and blueberries (a bit of a rut, but a tasty one nonetheless!).
Marie Brasseit 03.15.2012
Drink & dinner look lovely! But, does your husband eat this for dinner? Mine wouldn’t think It’s enough for him! (as I type this, he’s trying to hide his ice cream sandwich from me!……….rest my case!).
Anyway, love your blog and especially the pictures. Glad you enjoy grandma, too…….I have six wonderful grandchildren and you guys are the best!
Marie B.
Teresa K. 03.15.2012
and have you sprinkled the grapefruit with brown sugar and broiled it? – no puckers! (truthfully I thought we got this idea from you!)
Trisha 03.15.2012
I’ve never been a fan of grapefruit but that mojito has me excited to give them another try! I’ve yet to meet a mojito I didn’t like. ;)
futuredoll 03.15.2012
Absolutely LOVE that picture of you and your Grandma-such a special bond. My Grandma did the 1/2 grapefruit thing too!
Found your drink on Pinterest-thank you!
SingleMama 03.15.2012
I LOVE mojitos. Can not wait to try this one!!
Melissa 03.15.2012
Girl, your recipes are KILLING IT this week! Love this unexpected combo! Again–bookmarking! And that drink? Must have. MUST!
Christen 03.15.2012
we were just debating yesterday the sweetness of grapefruits. Is it that they have been engineered (selective breeding, I don’t even want to think about real genetic engineering) to be sweeter than when we were trying them as kids or have our taste buds truly “grown up”? hard to tell.
we’re having cookbook club on St. Patrick’s Day with all things green. This is going to be a good cocktail!
Shannon 03.15.2012
My husband LOVES grapefruits and I never understood why as I would pile the sugar up high and fight back the horrible bitter taste. Until I found out his secret…. use salt! Just a little sprinkled on top and they turn into the yummiest things I have even eaten. Supposedly the salt brings out the sweetness, while the sugar bring out the bitterness. Try it, you wont be disappointed!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.15.2012
Great idea – I’ll definitely try that! My dad loves salt sprinkled on cantaloupe!
Elizabeth @ Southern Color 03.15.2012
Oh wow! That cocktail looks amazing! I had grapefruit juice with vodka and muddled basil the other night, it was delicious! I will definitely be trying out this recipe.
morgan 03.15.2012
This sounds appealing, but I can’t get past the part where the grapefruit looks like raw chicken. Just me?
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) 03.15.2012
I LOVE grapefruits and mojitos! What a perfect pair. :)
Kierstan @ Life {and running} in Iowa 03.15.2012
I remember my mom eating grapefruit for breakfast too – with sugar and the spoon.
Honestly, I never even thought to eat it any other way (not that I did eat it at all) until a few years ago when I picked a few up at HyVee, peeled them like and orange and devoured them.
The mojito looks amazing. Good thing we have another week of these amazing temperatures to enjoy them!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 03.15.2012
I loathe grapefruit but I can honestly say that both of these recipes look delicious to me! Can’t wait to try them!