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Baked Grapefruit

Baked Grapefruit

My memories of grapefruit involve a whole lot of fuss over something bitter and unpleasant. There were of course the special spoons needed in order to separate the tart flesh from the rind. Then there was the necessary addition of sugar (and lots of it) in order to make it palatable. A few years ago, after reading about it’s many health benefits, I decided it was time to give it a second chance. Sticking my special spoon in, I was promptly treated to a large of squirt of juice directly into my eye.

In that moment I gave up on having anything to do with this citrus beast ever again. Well that’s what I thought until I watched Sunny Anderson make this incredible dessert. O.K O.K – there was peeling and segmenting and cutting involved but this time I wore goggles.

Luna 1 – Grapefruit 0

Of course this dessert doesn’t shy away from the fact that grapefruit does need a bit of sweetening up. The brown sugar, ice cream and meringue are (in my mind anyway) cancelled out through the healthful benefits of the grapefruit – so this is a perfectly healthy and delicious treat. It is also unbelievably easy to make. I whipped this up last night at 8pm. When I say whipped – I mean it. I don’t have an electric whisk so the meringue was all done by hand. This (also in my mind) makes it ‘cardio friendly’.

Sunny Anderson’s Baked Grapefruit

Ingredients

3 grapefruits

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 egg whites

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream

Special equipment 6 (4-ounce) ramekins

Directions

Heat oven to 450F / 230C / Gas Mark 4

Remove the ends of the grapefruit to stabilize them on the cutting board

Using a sharp knife, remove the skin and bitter pith from the flesh

Over a small bowl, hold grapefruit in 1 hand and carefully remove the segments by sliding the knife between the flesh and the membrane

Toss grapefruit pieces with brown sugar and vanilla and divide among 6 ramekins

In a large bowl, beat egg whites until light and fluffy

Add sugar and beat until meringue is glossy and holds stiff peaks

Top each ramekin with 1/4 cup of ice cream

Cover with meringue and bake until golden brown, about 7 minutes

Enjoy!

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