30 Grapefruit Recipes, Including Cocktails, Salads, Desserts, and More

This favorite citrus adds a bright, refreshing complexity to all kinds of dishes.

Citrus salad with grapefuit
John Kernick.

If lemons are sour and oranges sweet, grapefruit picks up the slack in between. The popular citrus fruit comes in white, pink, and red varieties and is available year-round. We love to eat it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Grapefruit shines in dishes both sweet and savory. Enjoy its bright complexity raw in salads, smoothies, and sorbet, or try broiling or baking grapefruit with fish or meat. Don't overlook the potential of grapefruit in desserts, and do not miss its punch in cocktails and spritzes.

When shopping for grapefruit, choose ones that are heavy for their size, with smooth, rather than bumpy, skin. These are good indicators that the grapefruit will be juicy.

01 of 30

Grapefruit Sorbet

Grapefruit Sorbet recipe
Paola + Murray

As refreshing and delicious as it is beautiful, this grapefruit sorbet is the best way we know to end a meal or cleanse your palate. It's spiked with Campari or Aperol for a bitter contrast to its bright flavor.

02 of 30

Grapefruit and Honey Margarita

Grapefruit and Honey Margarita
Ryan Liebe

You'll love how freshly squeezed grapefruit juice pairs with tequila and honey in our lower-ABV margarita. The honey replaces the usual orange liqueur, and it's a taste upgrade we're really on board with.

03 of 30

Grapefruit With Pistachios

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Don't be fooled by the short ingredient list—this sweet-and-salty brunch dish packs a wallop.

04 of 30

Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad

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Romulo Yanes

Sweet-tart grapefruit, buttery avocado, roasted salmon, and crisp greens make a satisfying main dish salad. A super simple lime vinaigrette ties all the flavors together.

05 of 30

Honey Zabaglione With Grapefruit

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John Kernick

Red grapefruit segments are stunning against the pale golden yellow of zabaglione. Our take on the classic Italian dessert adds honey and whipped cream to the whipped egg-yolk mixture for a sweeter taste and richer texture.

06 of 30

Seared Halibut Tacos With Grapefruit-Avocado Salsa

halibut tacos
Marcus Nilsson

Ruby red grapefruit meets avocado, and it's a perfect pairing. This salsa is too good to save for fish tacos and also too good not to serve with them.

07 of 30

Strawberry-Grapefruit Smoothie

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Grapefruit and strawberry make surprisingly delicious partners in this antioxidant-packed smoothie. Sweet apple and fresh ginger add extra oomph.

08 of 30

Mixed Grapefruit With Ricotta and Cardamom Honey

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Armando Rafael

Simmering honey with crushed green cardamom pods yields an incredible sauce for colorful grapefruit segments and fresh ricotta.

09 of 30

Warm Duck Salad With Caramelized Beets

Warm Duck Salad with Caramelized Beets recipe
Lennart Weibull

Use ruby red or oro blanco grapefruits in this colorful and hearty winter salad. They complement the roasted beets, duck breast, and bright herby sauce.

10 of 30

Winter Fruit Salad

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John Kernick

Colorful, crunchy, and fresh, this gorgeous salad is a welcome refresher in the winter. Grapefruit segments, slices of Asian pear, and pomegranate arils are drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sea salt and mint leaves. It’s that simple—and so good!

11 of 30

Basil-Yogurt Panna Cotta With Grapefruit Gelèe

Basil-Yogurt Panna Cotta with Grapefruit Gelée
Con Poulos

An elegant yet easy dessert that's also naturally gluten-free and no-bake. The grapefruit gelée (think fancy French Jell-O) is chilled until partially set. Then, a basil-infused yogurt is added, so the two elements form pretty swirls.

12 of 30

Pomegranate-and-Pink-Grapefruit Punch

pomegranate-and-pink-grapefruit punch
Nico Schinco

A sophisticated, non-alcoholic punch that looks as good as it tastes. After pouring a grapefruit-lychee juice mix, top each glass with a drizzle of pomegranate syrup and arils that falls to the bottom, giving the drink a striking ombre look. Top with prosecco if you prefer a lightly boozy drink.

13 of 30

Black-and-Pink Grapefruit Cookies

Black-and-Pink Grapefruit Cookies recipe
Paola + Murray

Like black-and-white cookies, only better: pink grapefruit zest gives these cookies a zing, while the fruit's juice and more zest flavor the pink frosting.

14 of 30

Grapefruit and Smoked-Trout "Cobb" Salad

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Armando Rafael

Nutty farro and flaky smoked trout make this elegant take on Cobb salad substantial enough for lunch or dinner. Thinly sliced grapefruit and avocado, crunchy romaine and watercress, and a zingy grapefruit-Dijon vinaigrette complete the dish.

15 of 30

Grapefruit and Vinegar-Roasted Beets With Salsa Verde

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Armando Rafael

Contrast makes a simple side dish come alive. Tender, caramelized beets are paired with juicy grapefruit rounds and a briny, herb-packed salsa verde.

16 of 30

Spicy Grapefruit Spritz

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Christopher Testani

This all-ages thirst-quencher gets its heat from thinly sliced jalapeno. Spike it with tequila or mezcal for cocktail hour.

17 of 30

Spice-Rubbed Fresh Ham With Citrus Glaze

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Bryan Gardner

Grapefruit zest goes into the dry rub for this showstopping ham, and grapefruit wedges roasted underneath it make a bright, intensely flavored accompaniment.

18 of 30

Salmon Poached in White Wine

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Romulo Yanes

Here, salmon gets a double hit of grapefruit flavor: zest on the fish, and juice-infused hollandaise on top.

19 of 30

Vermouth-Grapefruit Sangria

vermouth-grapefruit sangria
Armando Rafael

This low-ABV sipper is superb at brunch (or anytime!). It's a drink for grapefruit lovers, not your usual sangria. Our favorite citrus is juiced, supremed, and thinly sliced into wheels—before it's mixed with vermouth for a crowd-pleasing punch.

20 of 30

Bitter Greens, Grapefruit, and Avocado Salad

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Marcus Nilsson

This sophisticated salad transforms an assortment of ingredients that includes grapefruit, basil, avocado, poppy seeds, and three types of lettuce (escarole, Belgian endive, and frisée) into a harmonious whole.

21 of 30

Veal Scaloppine With Ruby Red Grapefruit

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Grapefruit juice and segments cut the richness of the buttery pan sauce in this weeknight veal dish that's fancy enough for company.

22 of 30

Citrus Salad With Pomegranate Seeds

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John Kernick

This showstopper (a Martha holiday brunch original) is worth every minute spent peeling, seeding, and scattering. Tackle the prep in stages—the fruit can be segmented one day ahead, and the full salad stored in the fridge for up to eight hours.

23 of 30

Broiled Grapefruit

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A round of blood orange and a caramelized brown-sugar crust make the proverbial "diet plate" anything but plain. You could also dust with confectioners' sugar or add a dollop of yogurt.

24 of 30

Warm Grapefruit Tea

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Freshly squeezed ruby red juice is sweetened with honey and infused with cinnamon and allspice. Enjoy this noncaffeinated tea before bed, to soothe a cold, or as an invigorating alternative to spiced apple cider.

25 of 30

Lillet Rose Spring Cocktail

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For extra-special occasions, nothing suits like a signature drink. If the edible flowers don't sell you, the base of grapefruit juice, gin, and Lillet Rosé will leave no doubts. (The White Nixon is another favorite.)

26 of 30

Miniature Grapefruit Souffles with Ginger

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Fresh ginger and Greek yogurt liven up these single-serving soufflés, while sugar and egg yolks tame grapefruit's trademark bite. The result is a balanced, sophisticated, and memorable dessert.

27 of 30

Jasmine Shortbread Sandwiches With Grapefruit Curd

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Homemade grapefruit curd is heaven on fragrant jasmine shortbread—but don't stop there. Try it on toast or stir it into yogurt for a snack that feels like a treat.

28 of 30

Seared Scallops with Shaved Fennel, Cucumber, and Grapefruit

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Yunhee Kim

This upside-down salad anchors itself atop tender pan-seared scallops. Zest, juice, and chunks of grapefruit as garnish ensure bright flavor in every bite.

29 of 30

Watercress, Pink Grapefruit, and Walnut Salad

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Yunhee Kim

A sesame-lime vinaigrette lends this tangle of watercress an Asian flair, while the grapefruit adds its lively punch.

30 of 30

Grapefruit and Mint Mojito

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The classic mojito gets a tart update from grapefruit-infused rum. Add splashes of mint syrup and seltzer, and you'll wonder why you ever had this cocktail any other way.

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