These roasted moon drop grapes are amazingly delicious on their own. Pairing them with creamy ricotta and hearty, crusty bread makes them super special!

Moon Drop Grapes

Moon Drop Grapes have a “gravity-defying shape” that looks like an elongated teardrop.  They are a new grape variety grown by The Grapery in California. Important to note, Moon Drop Grapes are cultivated and bred without additives or GMOs.  Moon Drop Grapes have a short growing season from August-November so are only available for a few months! 

Moon Drop Grapes are super crispy and can be snapped in two to reveal a light green sheen inside.  They are delicious raw, but roasting caramelizes the sugars and pairs well with the ricotta and crispy bread in this recipe.

The Grapery grows a number of unique grapes including,  Cotton Candy, Gum Drops and Flavor Pops grapes.  You can use their website to find a store near you selling these amazing grapes here.

The Grapery ¹

After trying my first bag of Moon Drop Grapes I wanted to learn everything about the farm they come from, The Grapery. All of their grapes are grown in the Southern San Joaquin Valley near Bakersfield, California.  The valley has ideal conditions for growing grapes thanks to the right combination of soil, climate, and water.

The Grapery team ensures that Moon Drop Grapes and all their varietals are harvested at peak flavor.  The experienced workers have an eye for the perfect grape.  Grape bunches are harvested by hand only when they reach peak flavor.

To ensure all of that cosmically good flavor is not lost, harvested grapes are immediately packaged and stored in a cold storage facility. From there they are shipped all over the world!

Freeze Them

If you are a frozen grape fan then you MUST try freezing Moon Drop Grapes.  Freezing them makes them extra crunchy and prevents them from getting smushed in a lunchbox. Frozen Moon Drop Grapes are also easy to slice to put on crackers or in a salad.

To freeze Moon Drop Grapes, rinse and pat dry. Next, arrange them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, and place in the freezer for at least two hours.  It’s important to first freeze on a cookie sheet or else they turn into a frozen clump!  Then, they can be stored in a plastic bag/container.

Grape Nutrition

All grapes, including Moon Drop Grapes, are a nutritious snack and addition to meals.  Grapes are a common snack that is more than just a sweet treat! Grapes are a good source of fiber, minerals like iron, potassium, zinc and calcium and vitamins A, C, K and B vitamins! ²

Grapes are also heart healthy, rich in polyphenols that can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Grapes are rich in polyphenols like flavonoids, phenolic acids and resveratrol, especially the skin and seed. ³  So next time you need a quick snack,  opt for grapes!

Let’s Make a Snack! 

Roasting Moon Drop Grapes takes grapes from good to GREAT! They are a cross between raisins and roasted cherry tomatoes that will really elevate and sophisticate a crostini with ricotta.  The addition of rosemary with its lemon-piney flavor lends a savory aspect to the grapes and pairs well with the ricotta.

Roasted Moon Drop Grapes have SO many culinary applications, so I recommend roasting the whole container.  You can serve the grapes with a charcuterie or cheese plate.  Also, sprinkle them on top of pork chops, chicken or a flaky white fish. Try serving on top of a salad, try a mix of raw and roasted Moon Drop Grapes! If you want to go sweet they even taste great with ice cream! ⁴

Ricotta

Ricotta is so easy and delicious with these savory Moon Drop Grapes! If you want to learn about the history and how ricotta is made, check out my post for Honey Whipped Ricotta with Espresso.  Ricotta, like most dairy products can be found as fat free, low fat and full fat. Higher fat content means creamier, more flavor and higher in calories.

Bread

Quality bread is crucial to the yum factor of this recipe and must not be overlooked! A crusty sourdough is always my preferred bread, the long fermentation time gives sour dough a more complex flavor. It also tends to have a longer shelf life than yeasted bread.

Similar Pages

Looking for more tasty snacks? Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, Healthy Corn Fritters or my Peach Salsa.

References

1. Moon Drops®. https://grapery.biz/index.php/our-grapes/moon-drops. Accessed April 3, 2020.
2. FoodData Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/174683/nutrients. Accessed April 3, 2020.
3. Dohadwala MM, Vita JA. Grapes and Cardiovascular Disease. J Nutr. 2009;139(9):1788S-1793S. doi:10.3945/jn.109.107474
4. Prakash S. Why You Should Roast Your Grapes. Epicurious. https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/how-to-roast-grapes-and-what-to-do-with-them-article. Accessed April 3, 2020.

Roasted moon drop grapes with ricotta

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Ingredients

• 1 bunch Moon Drop grapes
• 3 sprigs rosemary
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 ounces ricotta
• Loaf of crusty bread sliced

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Place grapes and rosemary on baking sheet. Add oil, salt, and pepper and mix. Arrange grapes in a single layer and bake until sizzling and some have burst, approximately 20 minutes.
• Once roasted, break rosemary off its stem and remove stems but keep rosemary with grapes.
• Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of ricotta on each slice of bread and top with grapes and rosemary.

Video

Notes

Notes: moon drop grapes are long and have dark sapphire skin – almost black. Seedless. Juicy sweet flavor. Shape allows for interesting culinary applications.