We have a little grapefruit tree. It's the tree that's small, not the fruit.
Barely 5 feet tall, this dwarf citrus carries emotional ties, too. It came from Capital Nursery's going-out-of-business sale; specifically, the Capital Nursery on Freeport Boulevard that closed in 2012. The tree is a constant reminder of that now-long-gone landmark.
The variety -- Cocktail -- is outstanding in flavor: sweet and tangy with that distinctive grapefruit scent. And very, very seedy.
Cocktail is not a true grapefruit, but a cross between a pummelo and a mandarin. Some growers refer to it as a "Mandelo."
This hybrid was developed by citrus researchers in Riverside and, according to some sources, was never intended for commercial release due to too many seeds. Home gardeners discovered Cocktail's great flavor and have helped this unusual variety persist.
I treat every Cocktail I get from my little tree as a treasure -- mostly because the dwarf tree bears only a few full-size fruit at a time. This winter's crop -- four! -- each weighed more than 20 ounces. And each grapefruit starred in its own dish -- including this salad.
Because of the many seeds, segments of Cocktail tend to end up chopped after peeling. That makes them ideal for a chopped salad, combined with roasted beets, avocado and iceberg lettuce, dressed with a vanilla vinaigrette and topped by feta cheese.
Unless you want the whole salad to turn pink while tossing, add the beets last.
Grapefruit, roasted beet and avocado chopped salad with vanilla vinaigrette
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
Vanilla vinaigrette (recipe below)
2 large beets, roasted, peeled and chopped 1 grapefruit, peeled, seeded and chopped 1 large avocado, seeded and chopped 2 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1/2 cup feta cheese, chopped or crumbled
Instructions:
In a small bowl, combine chopped beets with 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Set aside.
In a large salad bowl, combine grapefruit, avocado, lettuce and celery. Add remaining vinaigrette and toss gently.
To serve, divide grapefruit-lettuce mixture into bowls or onto plates. Top with beets and feta cheese. Serve.
Vanilla vinaigrette: 1/4 cup grapefruit or orange juice 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon sugar 1 dash Tabasco Salt and pepper to taste
In a jar, combine all ingredients. Cover and shake. Use immediately or store covered in refrigerator.
To roast beets: Trim tops to 1-inch and snip off long root. Wrap beets individually in foil and roast at 350 degrees F. until easily pieced with a thin knife, about 45 to 60 minutes depending on size. After roasting, beets can be easily peeled.