Celebrating Citrus
recipes to brighten up winter
In the thick of winter when everything starts to feel gray and dull (especially in the city) there is a bright spot I can count on to lift my mood—citrus. Winter is peak citrus season and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the fruit brings two things sorely needed this time of year— bright color and flavor, and an abundance of immune-supporting vitamin C. These recipes put citrus on the plate in exciting and comforting ways that can help see us through until spring. Enjoy!
Lemony Chickpea Stew With Pasta and Artichokes
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post
This one-pot meal of chickpeas and pasta in a lovely, lemony broth is studded with artichoke hearts and ribbons of spinach. It’s both hearty and bright —a simple, nutritious meal with an elegant flair that takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table.
Radicchio and Red Grapefruit Salad
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Gina Nistico for The Washington Post
This salad centers on red winter produce, with radicchio bringing a peppery crispness, red grapefruit adding its signature bite mellowed by juicy sweetness, and red onion offering an enlivening snap. That pleasantly bitter trio is countered with a lightly sweetened balsamic dressing, creamy dabs of goat cheese and a rich crunch of toasted walnuts for a stunning salad that offers a welcome contrast when served with hearty winter stews or roasted dishes.
Cod Stew With Fennel, Olives and Orange
Photo by Tom McCorkle and food styling by Bonnie S Benwick; for The Washington Post
This cod stew, brightened with orange zest and juice, is a big, nourishing bowl of comfort food that’s easy to make, yet sophisticated, making it as wonderful for everyday eating as it is for serving to company. It’s super convenient because you can make the base ahead so all you need to do when you are ready to eat is add the fish.
Join me LIVE on Substack tomorrow Wednesday, Feb 25th at 1PM ET with the amazing Nicki Sizemore. We’ll be chatting about nutrition, nourishment, and what it really means to feed ourselves well—body, mind, and spirit. I hope you can join us (and bring your questions!). You can save-the-date here: https://open.substack.com/live-stream/118428?
Another winner with the chickpea stew. Can't wait to make that!