Human civilizations have been cultivating and eating grapes for thousands of years…and for good reason. Grapes are an easy portable snack, they’re delicious, and they have many potential health benefits. Many studies have shown that grapes have antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and they’re also high in fiber and potassium.
Aside from eating raw grapes and drinking wine, there are lots of ways that you can incorporate more grapes into your meals and eat more of them on a regular basis. Here are a few of our favorite grape recipes to try for yourself!
Red Grape Pizza with Honey, Rosemary, and Pecorino
We’d never go so far as to say that pizza is a health food, but this Jaime Oliver recipe is a really delicious way to eat grapes.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1½ x 7 g dried yeast sachets
- 5 teaspoons runny honey
- 310 ml tepid water
- 500 g white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 generous pinch salt
- a few sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 lugs olive oil
- 2 handfuls red grapes
- 50 g pecorino cheese
DIRECTIONS:
- A drizzle of sweet honey in the pizza dough and a sprinkle of grapes on top are a killer combo
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Dissolve the yeast with a teaspoon of the honey in half the water and put to one side. Mix the flour with a good pinch of salt and shape into a pile on a clean work surface.
- Make a well in the center and, when the yeast and honey mix has frothed up, pour it into the well and mix gradually with the flour until it’s all soaked up. Pour on the rest of the tepid water and mix in all the flour to make a nice, moist, soft dough. Place in a clean bowl, cover with cling film and leave in a warm place for 15 minutes or so.
- Meanwhile, bash the rosemary in a pestle and mortar, add a little olive oil and bash again. Cut the grapes in half and put to one side.
When the dough has doubled in size, place it on the work surface and knead until smooth. Cut the dough into 4 pieces, knead each piece again briefly and shape them into 4 small pizzas. - Brush the pizzas with the bashed rosemary sprigs, leaving them smeared with rosemary oil, then scatter with the halved red grapes. Drizzle each pizza with a teaspoon of honey, and, finally, shave some pecorino over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the pizza bases are cooked and the cheese is bubbling and melted.
Roasted Grapes and Carrot Side Dish
An easy and healthy way to add grapes to your dinner menu is by an unlikely pairing of grapes and carrots. Try this full-flavor, Indian-inspired dish!
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds red grapes
- 16-ounce package baby carrots
- 1 medium red onion, cut into pieces
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. curry powder
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
- Combine all ingredients and spread onto baking sheet
- Bake for 15 minutes or until carrots are softened
Traditional Grape Salad
One of the most traditional ways to use grapes in recipes is the old-fashioned grape salad, and there are many ways to make it. Here’s an easy recipe that incorporates both green and red grapes.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 pounds green grapes
- 2 pounds red grapes
- 8-ounce container cream cheese
- 8-ounce container sour cream
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
DIRECTIONS:
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream, white sugar, and vanilla in a bowl
- Add grapes and mix in evenly
- Add brown sugar and pecans and mix again
- Keep refrigerated until serving time
Grape Seed Extract
In addition to cooking, you can also get the benefits of raw grapes in our Grape Seed Extract. We haul our grapes back to our plant from a local vineyard. Then to make the extract, we use a cold-press freshwater extraction, without any chemicals, solvents, or alcohol. We combine extract of the red grape seed with extract of the red grape skin in order to provide the many health benefits that are only available from utilizing the entire grape. For daily support, take one or two capsules unless otherwise directed by a physician.
