Orange and Grapefruit Salsa

This simple and delicious Orange and Grapefruit Salsa is the perfect accompaniment to enjoy with a beautiful Mexican-style feast. It’s zesty, citrus flavors pair great with Chicken or Fish Tacos, either as a side or thrown right there into the Tortilla. Suitably, it’s also a delicious dish to enjoy on its own with the refreshing flavors of Orange and Grapefruit a perfect dish to sit at the dinner table during Summer. Ready in 10 minutes, it’s a tasty and simple dish to enjoy the amazing natural flavors of these wonderful fruits

Inspiration for the Orange and Grapefruit Salsa recipe

On a trip to the amazing town of Santa Fe in New Mexico a few years ago we enjoyed some absolutely delicious foods. The hot, dry climate of this desert town offers a ridiculously vibrant food scene. Perhaps its most famous ingredient is the Red and Green Hatch Chiles, which is featured in so many dishes in that part of the country

However, this light and refreshing Salsa opts for the use of Serrano or Jalapeno Chilis, which is great, as they’re a lot more commonly found all over the world than the region-specific Hatch Chilies. We found this recipe in an amazing Salsa and Tacos recipe book we picked up in Santa Fe, published by the Santa Fe School of Cooking. They have some wonderful recipes, so we highly recommend you check them out

Santa Fe in general is just an amazing food town. I’m surprised it’s not as popular with foodie travelers, as the cuisine and culture in this beautiful part of the world is simply amazing

How to make this tasty Salsa

This Orange and Grapefruit Salsa is so easy to make at home and only requires a small handful of every-day ingredients you can easily grab at your local grocery store. The heroes’ ingredients in this recipe are the Oranges and Grapefruit, which will need to be prepared properly before being added to the Salsa

You will need to turn the Orange and Grapefruit into individual segments. This is a relatively easy step to do but does require some basic knife skills. I recommend using a sharp knife, and taking your time when preparing this step

First, cut a section of the fruit skin at the top and the bottom. This way, you should be able to sit the fruit on a flat surface, and it won’t roll off. Then, slowly cut away the peel by slicing downwards and then inwards, following the natural shape of the Fruit

Once this is done, go ahead and cut away any remaining white pith that’s still attached to the fruits. This has a very bitter taste and is generally not eaten. Slice it away and then discard

Turning a whole, peeled Orange / Grapefruit into individual segments

For this step, carefully cut along the natural seams that are formed in the Orange and Grapefruit to divide each segment into pieces. When cut correctly they will simply fall off. If you want to aim for a beautiful plate you may need to trim away any excess pith and pieces of the seams from each individual piece of fruit

It doesn’t need to look perfect, but ensuring you separate the individual segments from the seams will avoid any chewy pieces in the Orange and Grapefruit Salsa. At this stage, you can either serve the segments whole, or cut them in half

Preparing the rest of the delicious Salsa

With the Orange and Grapefruit done the remaining steps are very simple. All you’ll need to do is to finely slice up some Red Onion (not too much, half an Onion is enough!) and add it to a bowl with the Orange and Grapefruit

TO the bowl, also add some roughly chopped Cilantro and your finely diced Chili. Give it a good mix through some all the ingredients are combined before adding the final touches, which is a combination of Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, and a touch of Salt

As with all cooking, it’s important that you taste the dish before you serve it. With so few ingredients, the quantities of Vinegar and Olive Oil will have a drastic effect on the flavor of your Salsa. Also, Oranges and Grapefruits are seasonal, so they may have more or less intense flavor in them depending on what time of the year you’re making the dish

Once you’re happy with the overall flavor it’s time to serve! I recommend enjoying your Orange and Grapefruit Salsa with some classic Mexican dishes. It pairs so well with Fish and Chicken Tacos, but anything is going to benefit from this dish. Carne Asada and Carnitas are also a great pairing

Preparing earlier and storing in the refrigerator

If you like to save hassle around dinnertime, preparing dishes earlier is always a good choice. You can prepare the Orange and Grapefruit Salsa up to a day earlier and simply seal and store it in the refrigerator

Like most dishes, however, the Salsa is going to taste its best if you serve it immediately once it’s prepared. So, carve our 10 minutes in the afternoon before dinnertime and whip up this delicious dish as an amazing side to enjoy with your Mexican Feast

Orange and Grapefruit Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Oranges
• 1 Grapefruit
• ⅓ cup of chopped Cilantro
• 1 Jalapeno / Serrano Chili, finely diced
• ½ Red Onion, finely sliced
• 2 tsp. Olive Oil
• 1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
• Pinch of Salt
  
  

Instructions

1. Peel and remove the skin from the Oranges and Grapefruit then divide them into individual segments. (Optional) Cut the Segments in half and place into a bowl
2. Add Cilantro, Jalapenos / Serrano Chili, and Red Onion and mix to combine the ingredients
3. Finish the dish by adding Olive Oil, Vinegar, and Salt. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Serve cold or at room temperature
   
   

Recipe Notes

• This dish pairs perfectly with Fish or Chicken Tacos, either as an ingredient in the Tacos or as an appetizer or side dish
• You can store the dish for up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Simply seal in a container to keep it as fresh as possible
  
  

This wonderful and vibrant Orange and Grapefruit Salsa is perfect for the warm, summer months as it truly celebrates the rich and refreshing flavors of the Fruits. It’s a very easy dish to make so we highly recommend you give it a try

For more tasty Fruit and Vegetable Dishes just like this one, check out these amazing recipes:

• Mango Pico de Gallo
• Stuffed Mushrooms with Cream Cheese and Garlic
• Tomato Strawberry Burrata Salad
• Miso Glazed Eggplant
  
  

Happy Cooking!