Tequila-Grapefruit Cocktails

This cocktail is a riff on the classic combination of tequila and grapefruit soda known as a Paloma. Here, fresh grapefruit juice and grapefruit-infused tequila add bright, citrusy flavor to the drink, while elderflower liqueur adds a touch of sweetness.

• 
  
  4 fl. oz. (1/2 cup) grapefruit-infused silver (blanco) tequila (see note below), preferably Partida (or Don Julio Blanco or El Mejor)
  
  


• 
  
  2 fl. oz. (1/4 cup) fresh grapefruit juice
  
  


• 
  
  1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) St-Germain elderflower liqueur
  
  


• 
  
  1 fl. oz. (2 Tbs.) fresh lime juice
  
  


• 
  
  Club soda
  
  


• 
  
  Grapefruit twists or lime wedges, for garnish
  
  

Put the tequila, grapefruit juice, St-Germain, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into 2 double old fashioned glasses filled with fresh ice, and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with a twist or a wedge of lime.

Note: To make the grapefruit-infused tequila, shave the zest from 2 grapefruits with a vegetable peeler. Add the zest to a 750-ml bottle of silver tequila (pour off enough tequila to make room for the zest). Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 days and up to 2 weeks. Remove the zest after 2 weeks. The tequila will keep indefinitely once the zest is removed.

Frisée, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad

It’s best to layer this elegant salad, so the avocado and grapefruit don’t weigh down the delicate greens. If you like, you can mix a handful of arugula or thinly sliced radicchio with the frisée.

• 
  
  3 to 4 medium heads frisée (about 4-1/2 oz. each)
  
  


• 
  
  3 medium pink grapefruit 
  
  


• 
  
  1 medium shallot, minced (1/4 cup)
  
  


• 
  
  1-1/2 Tbs. Champagne vinegar; more as needed 
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice  
  
  


• 
  
  Kosher salt 
  
  


• 
  
  6 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  
  


• 
  
  2 firm-ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced lengthwise  
  
  


• 
  
  Freshly ground black pepper 
  
  


• 
  
  1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
  
  

To prepe the frisée

Remove the green outer leaves from the frisée and discard or reserve for another use. Trim off any dark green tips and cut off the root ends (you should have about 5 cups).

Finely grate 1 tsp. zest from one of the grapefruit. Trim the entire peel from all of the grapefruit and then cut the segments free from their membranes. 

Combine the grapefruit zest, shallot, vinegar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the olive oil. Taste with a leaf of frisée and season the vinaigrette with more vinegar or salt if necessary. Set aside.

Arrange the avocado slices on a platter or distribute among individual serving plates. Season with salt. 

Put the frisée in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the greens. Taste and season with more salt if necessary. Gently scatter the frisée on and around the avocado (the salad will be somewhat flat). Nestle the grapefruit slices into the salad.  Drizzle more vinaigrette on the salad, focusing on the avocado; you may not need it all. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve. 

Salty Perro Rojo

With its rosy color and sweet flavor, Texas red grapefruit juice makes an outstanding cocktail. Grapefruit juice and gin is known as a Greyhound, and if you salt the rim of the glass, it’s a Salty Dog. If you substitute tequila for the gin, it’s a Salty Perro. Since the grapefruit juice is red, I call this drink a Salty Perro Rojo.

• 
  
  Coarse sea salt
  
  


• 
  
  4 shots freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice
  
  


• 
  
  1 shot plata tequila
  
  

Put the salt in a saucer and wet the rim of a highball glass with grapefruit juice.

Salt the glass by dipping the wet rim in the salt. Fill the salted glass with ice. Add the tequila, then the juice, and stir carefully so as not to mess up the salted rim.

Frisée, Avocado, and Grapefruit Salad

It’s best to layer this elegant salad, so the avocado and grapefruit don’t weigh down the delicate greens. If you like, you can mix a handful of arugula or thinly sliced radicchio with the frisée.

• 
  
  3 to 4 medium heads frisée (about 4-1/2 oz. each)
  
  


• 
  
  3 medium pink grapefruit 
  
  


• 
  
  1 medium shallot, minced (1/4 cup)
  
  


• 
  
  1-1/2 Tbs. Champagne vinegar; more as needed 
  
  


• 
  
  1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice  
  
  


• 
  
  Kosher salt 
  
  


• 
  
  6 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  
  


• 
  
  2 firm-ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced lengthwise  
  
  


• 
  
  Freshly ground black pepper 
  
  


• 
  
  1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
  
  

To prepe the frisée

Remove the green outer leaves from the frisée and discard or reserve for another use. Trim off any dark green tips and cut off the root ends (you should have about 5 cups).

Finely grate 1 tsp. zest from one of the grapefruit. Trim the entire peel from all of the grapefruit and then cut the segments free from their membranes. 

Combine the grapefruit zest, shallot, vinegar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Whisk in the olive oil. Taste with a leaf of frisée and season the vinaigrette with more vinegar or salt if necessary. Set aside.

Arrange the avocado slices on a platter or distribute among individual serving plates. Season with salt. 

Put the frisée in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper. Gently toss with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the greens. Taste and season with more salt if necessary. Gently scatter the frisée on and around the avocado (the salad will be somewhat flat). Nestle the grapefruit slices into the salad.  Drizzle more vinaigrette on the salad, focusing on the avocado; you may not need it all. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve. 

Broiled Grapefruit with Honey, Vanilla & Cardamom

Grapefruit halves are a breakfast classic, but adding just a few intense flavorings and then broiling elevates them to a whole new level of deliciousness.

• 
  
  2 large grapefruit
  
  


• 
  
  2 Tbs. honey
  
  


• 
  
  1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  
  


• 
  
  Seeds of 1 cardamom pod, ground in a mortar (or a pinch of ground cardamom)
  
  

Position an oven rack about 4 inches below the broiler and heat the broiler on high. With a serrated knife, cut the grapefruit in even halves. Using a small paring knife or a grapefruit knife, cut each section away from the surrounding membrane. Set the grapefruit halves in a shallow broiler-safe pan (such as an enameled baking dish or a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet). If necessary, trim a thin slice off their bottoms so they sit level.

In a small bowl, stir together the honey and the vanilla extract. Drizzle the honey mixture over the grapefruit halves. Dust each with a bit of cardamom. Broil until bubbling and lightly browned in spots, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Tequila-Grapefruit Cocktails

This cocktail is a riff on the classic combination of tequila and grapefruit soda known as a Paloma. Here, fresh grapefruit juice and grapefruit-infused tequila add bright, citrusy flavor to the drink, while elderflower liqueur adds a touch of sweetness.

• 
  
  4 fl. oz. (1/2 cup) grapefruit-infused silver (blanco) tequila (see note below), preferably Partida (or Don Julio Blanco or El Mejor)
  
  


• 
  
  2 fl. oz. (1/4 cup) fresh grapefruit juice
  
  


• 
  
  1-1/2 fl. oz. (3 Tbs.) St-Germain elderflower liqueur
  
  


• 
  
  1 fl. oz. (2 Tbs.) fresh lime juice
  
  


• 
  
  Club soda
  
  


• 
  
  Grapefruit twists or lime wedges, for garnish
  
  

Put the tequila, grapefruit juice, St-Germain, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain into 2 double old fashioned glasses filled with fresh ice, and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with a twist or a wedge of lime.

Note: To make the grapefruit-infused tequila, shave the zest from 2 grapefruits with a vegetable peeler. Add the zest to a 750-ml bottle of silver tequila (pour off enough tequila to make room for the zest). Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 days and up to 2 weeks. Remove the zest after 2 weeks. The tequila will keep indefinitely once the zest is removed.

Salty Perro Rojo

With its rosy color and sweet flavor, Texas red grapefruit juice makes an outstanding cocktail. Grapefruit juice and gin is known as a Greyhound, and if you salt the rim of the glass, it’s a Salty Dog. If you substitute tequila for the gin, it’s a Salty Perro. Since the grapefruit juice is red, I call this drink a Salty Perro Rojo.

• 
  
  Coarse sea salt
  
  


• 
  
  4 shots freshly squeezed red grapefruit juice
  
  


• 
  
  1 shot plata tequila
  
  

Put the salt in a saucer and wet the rim of a highball glass with grapefruit juice.

Salt the glass by dipping the wet rim in the salt. Fill the salted glass with ice. Add the tequila, then the juice, and stir carefully so as not to mess up the salted rim.