10 Things to do with a Pomegranate ~ pomegranate recipes, tips, and tricks, to making the most of this beautiful and healthy fall fruit!
10 Things to do with a Pomegranate — a guide to nature’s most beautiful, and most confounding, fruit
It’s pomegranate season, and you’ve probably already spotted them in your supermarket, I know I have. But just a few short years ago I wouldn’t have touched them with a ten foot pole. I didn’t have a clue how to use them, much less how to open one up. And even if I got one open, what’s the deal with the seeds…how to you get them out,…and do you spit the pits? Swallow them? Pomegranates can cause a lot of confusion.
Pomegranates are a beautiful food, they’ve inspired writers, artists, and cooks, for centuries. I hope I can inspire you to dive into that pile in the produce section!
Pomegranates originated in the Middle East
But they’ve quickly spread all around the world. They grow in California, and also in Arizona. In our last house in Los Angeles we had the luxury of a neighbor’s pomegranate tree that hung way over into our driveway. We had pomegranates right up until Christmas. During those years I came to know and love this unusual fruit.
when are pomegranates in season?
The season in America goes from September through November, but pomegranates are hardy, and store well, so you’ll find them in stores through January.
Now, with imports from Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and Mexico, you can find pomegranates in many stores year round.
how to store pomegranates
Poms should be stored in the fridge. Once seeded, the arils can be frozen in heavy duty zip lock baggies.
how to choose a pomegranate
Since poms don’t continue to ripen after being picked, what you see is what you get, so it’s important to choose wisely.
- Look for a large fruit, because large fruit will have more pulp (arils)
- Don’t just look, pick them up, a fresh juicy pomegranate will feel heavy for its size
- Find one with a bright color, because that indicates good quality
- And finally, a smooth shiny skin tells you it’s fresh
why are some pomegranate seeds pale pink?
Most pomegranates will have deep ruby red arils, or seeds, but some are pale pink, or even white.
There isn’t any way to tell this from the outside, so it will be a surprise when you open it up. No need to worry, the paler colors taste just as good, and if anything, they’re a little sweeter. I always get excited when I open up a pomegranate and see pale seeds, I think they’re the prettiest.
How to remove the seeds from a pomegranate
Ok, so you’ve chosen your pomegranate, now what? You need to get those little seeds out! There are several ways to do it but one is by far the best:
- Cut your pomegranate in half, and if it is very big, you can even separate it into quarters.
- Over a bowl in your sink, hold the pomegranate, skin side up, in one hand, and whack it with a wooden spoon with your other hand. The seeds will miraculously fall into the bowl.
You can keep the seeds in an airtight container for several days in the refrigerator. Use them for snacking, or topping yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, or hummus!
Are pomegranates healthy?
Pomegranates are super healthy and fall under the super food category
- they’re loaded with antioxidants called punicalagins, which protect cells from damage by free radicals
- The seeds are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals
- Pomegranate is anti-inflammatory
- They may help fight prostate and breast cancers
- They may help lower blood pressure, and help arthritis sufferers
ten of my favorite ways to use pomegranates
jazz up roasted Brussels sprouts
Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over roasted sprouts. They’ll sparkle like little jewels and maybe even tempt those Brussels sprout haters in your life to give them a try! When you’re pressed for time and trying to fill a holiday table, this Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate is a great recipe to have on hand.
Wait until the last minute before serving to sprinkle pomegranate seeds on your finished dish.
Mix them with heirloom tomatoes
This Tomato and Pomegranate Salad is an little unusual, but trust me, the flavors mingle beautifully. This is an example of a dish where pomegranates play a starring roll. I particularly love the colors in this salad, the pink arils were a pleasant surprise!
Use the juice and arils with grilled chicken
I love these Pomegranate and Lime Chicken Thighs, the recipe uses both the seeds and the juice of the pomegranate so the unique sweet tart flavor really comes through. The lime and the pomegranate colors are gorgeous!
Make candy!
Fresh pomegranate juice can be used to make all natural Homemade Gumdrops. You can use fresh juice or bottled and the process is easy. This is a fun project to do with kids.
Pair pomegranate with winter citrus
An easy Citrus Salad with Pomegrante and Pistachio is a great choice for a fall or winter salad course. The colors of the citrus along with the garnet colored seeds is really festive.
Make pomegranate sorbet
A simple and healthy Pomegranate Sorbet can be made with pomegranate juice and some sugar to sweeten it up a bit. You don’t even need an ice cream maker for this recipe.
Make your own homemade pomegranate molasses
One of my favorite condiments in the world is Pomegranate Molasses. You can buy it in the grocery store, usually in the International aisle, but it’s simple to make yourself. You boil down pomegranate juice until it becomes a thick syrup. Voila — you have the best secret weapon ever for sauces, marinades, salad dressings, and tons more…use your imagination!
This pomegranate wine sauce goes with my Mini Koftas, which are little Middle Eastern meat kabobs. The sauce will blow your mind. No exaggeration. I copied it from a restaurant dish and I’m so glad I nailed it.
Make a fresh salsa to go with fish and seafood
Pomegranate salsa is a versatile little idea, I served it with Grilled Shrimp with Pomegranate Salsa but I can think of a million ways to use it. Pomegranate salsa is a clever way to bring some sunshine to a midwinter meal.
garnish Persian Jeweled Rice
This beautiful Middle Eastern inspired rice pilaf is probably one of my favorite dishes that uses pomegranate seeds. They really do look like little jewels on top of this classic Middle Eastern pilaf. I think it’s made for the holidays, and will make any vegetarians or vegans at your table very happy.
they add sparkle to any salad
Pomegranates are used in both the salad and the dressing in my Harvest Salad with Pomegranate Allspice Dressing. They brighten a seasonal salad and make it holiday worthy. The combination of pomegranate and allspice is a wonderful discovery, too.
Anything with pomegranate makes it better than before. 🙂 I love them!
Hey.,I liked it so much! I love the fruit selection in this. The mayonnaise was a little much, next time I’ll try cool whip like someone else said below. 🙂 Overall, I would serve it again 🙂
I have one with pale seeds in my fridge right now. You gave me some great ideas on how to finish it off!
I love pomegranate but usually just eat it on its own. This is a fantastic roundup Sue!
It’s funny, I love pomegranates too but rarely just eat them on their own!
Terrific tips, Sue! Thank you for all the grrrreat ideas. Love the looks of your pomegranate sorbet and rice pilaf and, and, and….=)
My grandmother used to have a pomegranate tree in her backyard and we used to eat them like candy. Great post, love the gum drops.
I love pomegranates as well, they always remind me of the Arabian stories my grandma used to read to me as a child. In many of these stories people would open a pomegranate which was filled with jewels instead of the seeds. I have already cooked your Persian Jeweled Rice last winter and loved it. I think I would like to cook the chicken now. 🙂
Wow Sue what a great spread. I have to try those gummy bears and the Brussel sprouts. The sorbet sounds great too! Thanks for sharing these.
Oh, boy, I’m suddenly craving pomegranates. I never knew that the pale arils were normal—what a revelation!!
So I’ve been a fan of pomegranates ever since 7th grade Roman Mythology class. That’s when I learned about Persephone eating the pomegranate seeds and that’s what causes winter to come each year. Maybe it’s not the most factual story, but nevertheless pomegranates have been one of my favorites ever since! Love this post…thanks for the ideas!!