Pomegranates are Wonderful!
Have you ever seen a pomegranate? Have you purchased one and done anything with it? If you’re anything like me, you’ve never even noticed this fabulous little fruit in the grocery store.
Until recently, I had only tried POM Wonderful juice. It’s tart and a deep red color, and it really cranks up smoothies. My family loves it! A couple of months back, I was cruising through the produce section at the store and came upon a strange looking fruit – a pomegranate. And by golly it came with instructions. I grabbed a couple of them and an instruction pamphlet and as soon as I got home, I cut into it. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed the plucking of the seeds (arils) from the flesh of the fruit. It was almost relaxing! The arils have an amazing burst of sweet and tart with a lovely little crunch. We add them to yogurt, top waffles with them, and eat them straight out of a bowl with our fingers!
Pomegranates arils are full of wonderful. They are powerful antioxidants, contain vitamin C, B5, unsaturated oils, and are a good source of fiber. They are also known to help lower blood pressure and raise good cholesterol levels, as well as inhibit the growth of certain cancers cells.
Why wouldn’t you want to run right out and get one now?
Here are some quick instructions on how to ‘seed’ a pomegranate!
This Thanksgiving, I plan to prepare this yummy recipe I found on the POM Wonderful website:
Gather:
- Juice from 2-3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates,* or 1 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
- 1/3 cup arils from 1 large POM Wonderful Pomegranate
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/4 cups dried cranberries
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons shredded orange peel
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
- 1. Score 1 fresh pomegranate and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranate underwater to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1/3 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.)
- 2. Prepare fresh pomegranate juice*, or just use ready to use POM Wonderful juice (available in your grocers freezer).
- 3. In a medium saucepan combine the juice, water, cranberries, sugar, orange peel and cornstarch.
- 4. Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. (If a thicker sauce is desired, simmer 10 minutes more.)
- 5. Remove from heat; stir in reserved arils. Cool 15 minutes; if not using right away, place in a tightly covered container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
*For 1 cup of juice, cut 2-3 large POM Wonderful Pomegranates in half and juice them with a citrus reamer or juicer. Pour mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer or sieve. Set the juice aside.
Nutrients Per Serving (1/4 cup): 174 calories, 0g protein, 43g carbohydrate, 0g total fat, 0mg cholesterol, 2mg sodium.
You can find more amazing recipes for pomegranates on the POM Wonderful website!
Taste of the Sisterhood is sponsored by Attune Foods!
Category: Christy, EAT IT, Side Dish, Taste of the Sisterhood
