29 Breathtakingly Beautiful Blood Orange Recipes
The start of a new year always has me looking for blood oranges… The gorgeous, sweet, tangy fruit is available for a couple of months in the Rio Grande Valley “winter.” As you’ll see below, blood oranges are so versatile, lending themselves well to both sweet and savory applications. Their vibrant blood red color makes them a perfect addition to a special main dish, salad, dessert, or blood orange cocktail. Valentine’s Day is just a month away, and I’m guess these 29 Breathtakingly Beautiful Blood Orange Recipes will provide plenty of inspiration for a romantic meal for two!
🍊 About Blood Oranges
The blood orange, with its signature blood-red flesh, is a natural mutation of a “regular” orange that may have originated in China or the southern Mediterranean. Their characteristic red color comes from anthocyanin (an anti-oxidant), which only develops when cold nights follow warm days. You’re mostly likely to see them harvested – and in markets – during the winter months.
The three most common types of blood oranges are the Moro, the Sanguinello, and the Tarocco. They range from somewhat tart to somewhat sweet. They will also vary in the amount and intensity of red flesh. Some blood oranges have the red color appearing to seep through the skin, others do not. They can be difficult to peel, and I typically supreme them.
Are they healthy?
The short answer? YES! Blood oranges are full of anthocyanins, the antioxidant pigment that give grapes, tomatoes, and pomegranates their rich colors. These antioxidants are known for their cancer-fighting properties. They also offer anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties.
Like other oranges, blood oranges are high in vitamin C, and regularly consuming vitamin C may help raise “good” cholesterol, and lower “bad” cholesterol. For more information, see Health Benefits of Blood Oranges and Blood Oranges: Change You Can Believe In.
💭 Tips
When selecting blood oranges, look for unblemished, bright orange-colored fruit, some with an attractive rose-colored blush. The fruit should be heavy for its size and should emit a slightly sweet, floral fragrance.
Blood oranges can be stored on the counter for several days or in a refrigerator fruit bin for up to a week. For the best flavor, bring the fruit to room temperature before eating.
Okay. Enough small talk already. Let’s take a look at these beautiful blood orange recipes… They are truly a feast for the eyes!
🥘 Savory Recipes
Savory Blood Orange Recipes
Healthy and healthyish savory recipes that feature blood oranges!
Mexican Fish in Blood Orange Broth
Your favorite firm white fish and your choice spiralized roasted vegetables in a luscious blood orange and beer broth... it's healthy and easy, and a flavorful way to eat healthier in 2020!
Oysters on the Half Shell With Blood Orange Mignonette
Sweet, smoky, salty, spicy... all in a little bite of the ocean! Oysters With Bacon, and Blood Orange Mignonette is a simple and elegant starter course for adventurous foodies...
Blood Orange Mussels with Pomegranate Lime Linguine
Blood oranges, pomegranates, and lime combine with mussels and linguine for a dish that brings a bright and fresh feel to winter!
Blood Orange Glazed Salmon
This Blood Orange Glazed Salmon is made with a sweet and salty blood orange and soy sauce glaze for a light, fresh fish dinner.
Drunken Scallop Tiradito
This tiradito has a Californian spin, with the addition of avocados and seasonal, locally grown blood oranges. The sauce that flavors the scallops is a combination of freshly squeezed lime and tequila.
Blood Orange Roast Chicken
A succulent roast chicken with blood oranges, rosemary, and garlic is fit for company, and easy enough for weeknight dinners!
Instant Pot Roast Pork With Blood Oranges
A succulent pork roast dripping with the brilliant red juice of the blood orange, the tang of good mustard, the herbal earthiness of rosemary, and the sweetness of currants...
Blood Orange Cobia with Capers
This blood orange cobia with capers is a flaky white fish that is enhanced by the flavors of fresh citrus and salty capers and ready in about 30 minutes.
Arugula Salad with Fennel and Blood Oranges
This Arugula Salad with Fennel and Blood Oranges features peppery arugula, crisp fennel, juicy blood oranges, and crunchy walnuts tossed with a light vinaigrette to create an explosion of flavors that you will year 'round!
Asparagus Blood Orange Salad - with Toasted Quinoa
This shaved asparagus and blood orange salad is topped with toasted quinoa for some crunch. It's healthy, bright and refreshing.
Spiralized Raw Beet Salad with Blood Oranges
This spiralized raw beet salad with blood oranges is a refreshing vegan salad that takes advantage of vitamin-packed winter produce, is easy to make, and looks beautiful!
Blood Orange Avocado Crostini
Blood Orange Avocado Crostini are tiny versions of everyone’s favorite snack topped with beautiful blood oranges, honey and sea salt. They’re a delicious and healthy appetizer!
Pomegranate and Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Vermillion blood orange juice and pomegranate molasses provide sweet-tart flavor in this Pomegranate and Blood Orange Vinaigrette. It comes together in minutes, includes healthy ingredients, and elevates the level of your salads...
🍨 Sweet Recipes
Sweet Blood Orange Recipes
Blood Orange Ice Cream with Ginger and Dark Chocolate Chips
Vibrantly colored winter citrus is perfectly complemented by ginger and dark chocolate making for a blood orange ice cream that’s worth turning the heat up for this winter.
Blood Orange Margarita Sorbet
The vermillion hue of fresh-squeezed blood oranges combined with fresh lime juice, tequila, and citrus simple syrup makes a gorgeous and refreshing not-too-sweet finale to a beautiful meal!
Blood Orange Crepe Suzette For Two
Pillowy soft crepes, coated in a blood orange infused, citrusy caramelized syrup and served with extra blood orange segments, raspberries and a dollop of whipped cream.
Turmeric Cake with Blood Oranges
This picturesque Turmeric Cake with Blood Oranges is an upside down cake that will wow everyone! It’s an unexpected dessert that’s packed with flavor and buttery goodness.
Olive oil and semolina syrup cakes
Fragrant and delicious olive oil and semolina syrup cakes with candied blood oranges.
Chocolate Dipped Candied Blood Oranges
Sweet (but not too sweet), chewy, salty, and rich with a dark chocolate coating... Chocolate Dipped Candied Blood Oranges are a perfect treat to share with your Valentine!
Blood Orange Earl Grey Tarts
Blood Orange Earl Grey Tarts: little pâte brisée tart shells filled with earl grey pastry cream and topped with blood orange segments and crushed pistachios.
Easy Blood Orange Sorbet Recipe
Easy Blood Orange Sorbet Recipe – simple to make with bright concentrated flavor and sweet taste, this sorbet is just amazing!
Blood Orange Jam Recipe
This easy small batch blood orange jam has a bright delicate flavor with berry overtones, and a glorious color, with none of the bitterness of marmalade. I’ve added vanilla bean to make it even more alluring…breakfast never had it so good!
Dairy Free Blood Orange Flan
This Blood Orange Flan is an elegant dessert for a special occasion for two, and worth the extra effort!
🍹 Blood Orange Cocktails
Cocktails
Blood Orange Mezcal Negroni
Mezcal, Campari, blood orange cordial, and fresh lime juice shaken with ice and strained into a smoked salt rimmed rocks glass!
Gin and Blood Orange Mimosa
An easy, refreshing Gin and Blood Orange Mimosa to jazz up your winter weekends! This brunch mimosa has just the right amount of sweetness and booze and tastes floral, citrusy and earthy. Perfect to serve a crowd.
Tequila Cocktail with Blood Orange and Pomegranate
Silver reposado tequila, pomegranate liqueur (Pama), and pomegranate molasses get shaken or stirred, and the glass gets topped off with blood orange Italian soda in this easy and oh-so-delicious (not sweet) cocktail recipe!
Blood Orange Margaritas
Learn how to make blood orange margaritas at home with fresh blood oranges (or bottled juice), limes, raw honey, and 100% agave silver tequila. This drink recipe looks beautiful (the color is gorgeous), goes down easy, and uses simple ingredients that are easy to find.
Sbagliato Negroni
The Sbagliato Negroni! The perfect, easy drinking cocktail for a holiday party, brunch, shower, summer vacation, or just a quiet evening at home.
Blood Orange Elderflower Gin Cocktail
The refreshing elderflower gin cocktail gets a pop of color and flavor from the addition of blood orange juice.
Blood Orange Martini
The Blood Orange Martini is a fresh combination of sweet, slightly bitter fruit juice, rosemary & Campari. With an air of old-fashioned grandeur brought about by the egg white foam this is one sleek, silky drink to linger over.
Blood Orange Cinnamon Margarita
A seasonal and fruit Blood Orange Cinnamon Margarita is a new twist on a Traditional Margarita. Enhance it with a cinnamon sugar rim!
Blood Orange Pisco Sour
The gorgeous red flesh and the distinct raspberry-citrus flavor of the blood orange combined with pisco and egg white produces one beautiful and delicious cocktail! Finish with a shake or two of orange bitters, and a slice or a twist or blood orange. Qué rico!
OMG Tamara! I can’t wait to try each and every one of these! All of the cocktails are calling my name along with the chocolate dipped candied orange slices (which I can never get right) and those crepes! Sharing!
Aren’t blood oranges amazing? I’m hoping to make many of them myself (and ALL the cocktails)! Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Ah thanks so much for including my recipe here. Now, where to start on all the other goodies you’ve lined up for us all to enjoy.
My pleasure Jane! Your cocktail is a beautiful addition to the collection!