What Can I Make with a Pomegranate?
My most favorite fruit...
The pomegranate isn't one of the top ten fruits that grace the tables of most Americans, but it should be. This Asian fruit is one of the superpowers of the food world, providing a burst of antioxidants and other health benefits. If you are tired of apples and bananas, the pomegranate is patiently waiting for your attention.
How the heck do I eat one?
I'll get to other important facts about nutrition, season, history, etc. in a minute, but everyone who holds a pomegranate in their hand wants to know- how do I get to the fruit?
Pomegranates look like big oversized apples. The outside shell is tough and red, the texture resembling a cross between a melon and an orange. The whitish flesh inside contains the seeds, which are what you are after. Be forewarned, that pomegranate juice stains everything it touches so here is the best way to crack one open.
1. Get a large bowl and fill it with lukewarm water.
2. With a sharp chef's knife, cut the pomegranate's crown off of the top.
3. Score the fruit into several wedges (but don't cut all the way through).
4. Place the pomegranate under the water and break it open. The point of the water is to keep the juice from squirting everywhere and staining everything in its path.
5. Gently rub your fingers along the seeds and they will begin to fall out of the flesh.
6. Dump the water and seeds into a colander and drain.
7. Keep the bowl of seeds in the fridge when you are not eating them by the handful!
Ode to the pomegranate!
Where is it from? The pomegranate originated in India and thrives in warm dry climates.
When is it in season? The best time to find pomegranates is in the fall and winter months.
What is the average price for one? When grocery stores have them on sale, you can expect to pay around $2.50 for one pomegranate.
How many seeds do they yield? Depending on the size, the fruit will yield anywhere from 200 to 1400 seeds.
Do I eat the seeds whole? Yep!
What does it taste like? Ripe pomegranates are deliciously sweet and tart all in the one bite. The flavor from one seed is bold, but a handful is absolutely divine.
Isn't the pomegranate mentioned in the Bible? Yes many times actually. It is one of the seven fruits mentioned in the torah, and tradition holds that the 613 commandments of the Torah were representative of the 613 seeds inside of it. There is a lot of biblical symbolism related to the pomegranate.
Pay attention to me!
Fun ways to enjoy the pomegranate....
1. Put a couple of seeds in a champagne glass to add a holiday flair.
2. Sprinkle some on a spinach salad.
3. Juice a pomegranate for a delicious smoothie or juice.
4. Make a holiday centerpiece with candles, greenery, pears, and pomegranates.
5. Sprinkle the seeds on top of a yogurt parfait.
6. Use the pomegranate to hold name tags at a wedding (a name tag and favor all in one)
7. Pomegranate juice is great for a bunch of different cocktail recipes.
8. Make adorable gelatins made from pomegranate juice.
9. Chocolate pomegranate clusters!
10. Pomegranate cupcakes.
11. Put in your cereal in the morning
My favorite thing to do? Eat the whole dang thing with a spoon in one sitting.
-Julie DeNeen
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