Grapefruit Cardamom Brûlée

in Recipes

Foods that require little to no work to enjoy are my favorite. Bananas – peel and eat. Done. Carrots – wash and eat. Done. Prewashed organic baby spinach – put in bowl and eat. Done.

Grapefruits… not so much.

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely adore grapefruits and they are one of my all time favorite winter fruits. Painstakingly cutting and individually segmenting them, stabbing my fingers, cutting an accidental hole in the bottom of the grapefruit and letting all the juice leak out and get over my shirt…is not my favorite.

Oh but I put up with them. There’s something about that unique tart and sweet taste of grapefruits that keeps me coming back for more every time. Plus, grapefruits have exceptional goodness benefits as well that keep me glowing in the cold winter months. Like all citrus, grapefruits are packed with Vitamin C, a cold fighting, free radical scavenging, inflammation reducing, and all around beneficial Vitamin. Pink and red grapefruits also pack in the phytonutrient, lycopene. Lycopene rich foods have been shown to have anti-tumor and cancer properties due to their free radical fighting abilities. Consuming a diet rich in red-hued foods (like grapefruits) is a great way to keep nourished on lycopene’s phytonutrient powers.

So, let’s put in the extra work together and enjoy our grapefruits. They’re worth it right? For an extra special and indulgent way to enjoy the fruit of our labors, brûlée them! A brûlée is a traditional French dessert made with soft, creamy custard with a crunchy sugar top. If you’re ever in Paris, I suggest you try one! If not, brûlée your grapefruits and reap antioxidant and cholesterol-lowering benefits instead!

These brûléed grapefruits make a wonderful addition to a simple breakfast or brunch, and are ideal with a drizzle of coconut yogurt and a sprinkle of homemade crunchy granola. I also like having these as a sweet and warm dessert on chilly evenings!

Grapefruit Cardamom Brûlée

Serves 4

Grapefruit:
2 grapefruits
4 tablespoons coconut sugar (each grapefruit half gets a tablespoon)
Pinch of ground cardamom
Dash of sea salt

Optional Toppings:
A loving handful of homemade Maple Vanilla Pecan Granola
½ cup unsweetened coconut yogurt

Cut grapefruits in half (crosswise) and place them on a baking tray, cut side up. If grapefruits are a bit wobbly, cut off a bit of the bottom peel to stabilize them.

Mix coconut sugar, salt, and cardamom together and sprinkle generously overtop of cut grapefruit.

Kitchen torch / using a kitchen torch, heat coconut sugar on grapefruit until melted, bubbling, and caramelized. Let grapefruit cool slightly for 3-5 minutes and then serve immediately. If desired, top with a drizzle of coconut yogurt and granola and enjoy!

Oven Broiler / Preheat oven broiler to high and broil grapefruits about 7-10 minutes, or until sugar is melted, bubbling, and caramelized. Note – all broilers are not the same, so watch your grapefruits carefully so they do not burn! Remove grapefruits from oven and let cool slightly for 3-5 minutes and then serve immediately. If desired, top with a drizzle of coconut yogurt and granola and enjoy!

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