
Photography by Olivia Hayo for Edible San Diego

Photography by Olivia Hayo for Edible San Diego

Photography by Haley Hazell for Edible San Diego
When life hands you lemons—and oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines—try them in a salad, a shrub, or a decadent and healthy cake. There are few places in the world where citrus grows in backyards, farms, and orchards like it does here. As a food magazine dedicated to highlighting seasonal ingredients, we take the responsibility of being obsessed with winter citrus seriously. Each recipe from the ediblesandiego.com archive celebrates the season’s juiciest gems, proving that sometimes the best local winter produce doesn’t come from a greenhouse—it comes from a grove.
RECIPE BY HALEY HAZELL
Bright ruby red grapefruit segments are layered with bitter radicchio and peppery arugula in this seasonally inspired salad. A generous sprinkling of poppy seeds adds subtle crunch, visual contrast, and a pop of unexpected flavor.

RECIPE COURTESY OF COOL HAND CO.
Most shrub recipes use a 1:1:1 ratio of fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Macerate acidic fruits like citrus, berries, apples, pears, or stone fruit with white sugar and add your choice of raw vinegar. The resulting shrub is good enough to sip on its own, with a splash of seltzer, or added to a favorite cocktail. Shrubs can also add next-level flavor dimensions to basic vinaigrettes.
» Make your own Grapefruit Rosemary Shrub
Explore the world of clever concoctions dreamed up by these San Diego-made shrub makers:

RECIPE BY OLIVIA HAYO
This coverworthy cake offers warming spices and a protein-rich base, making a good excuse to have it ready for everyday occasions like breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Inspired by the almond blossoms and sun-warmed oranges of Andalusia, a hint of lemon with navel and blood oranges from the Little Italy Mercato brighten this gorgeous cake recipe that is sure to become a favorite meal plan staple.

STORY AND RECIPES BY JENNIFER FELMLEY
As winter envelops Southern California, the region’s orchards burst with a kaleidoscope of citrus fruits, offering a vibrant antidote to the season’s chill. With the abundance of local, seasonal ingredients, what better way to celebrate winter than by exploring the versatile world of citrus? From preserving its essence to incorporating it into cozy recipes, let’s delve into the art of citrus preservation and culinary creativity during this bountiful season.
» Preserve lemons and make citrus cheong

BY ARIANNA LITRENTA
If there was ever a time to cozy up with the selections from our Cookbook Club series, it’s now. With winter in full swing, this selection feels like an invitation to slow down, reflect, and cook with intention.
The three cookbooks featured here may appear vastly different at first glance, but they share a common theme of seasonality, nourishment, and warmth. Together, they strike the perfect balance to inspire a delicious and restorative start to 2026.

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SPRING 2025