We’re featuring the delicious pomegranate as our fruit of the month! If you’ve been shy about grabbing one of these at the grocery store, read on to see how easy it is.
Pomegranates are sized between a lemon and a grapefruit. They are round with a thick reddish or pink coloured skin. As they ripen they take on more of a square shape. Choose pomegranate that is heavy for its size. The heavier ones are juicer. Fresh, whole, unpeeled pomegranates can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months. Once they are seeded, the seeds will keep in a closed plastic container for a few days or they can be stored in the freezer for up to ten months. To freeze, dry the seeds and arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with wax paper. When frozen (about 2 hours) place in a freezer bag or plastic container and store in the freezer for up to ten months.
Removing the seeds from a pomegranate can be messy. Half Your Plate Industry Partners POM wonderful have some great resources that you can use here! Just remember that the seeds could stain work surfaces so we recommend using a plastic cutting board rather than a wooden one.
Pomegranate seeds can be used in cooking, baking, salads, as a garnish, in juice blends, smoothies and even alcoholic beverages. They also make a great snack right from the bowl. Make an easy spinach salad by adding thinly sliced red onion, orange wedge and pomegranate seeds with a simple oil and vinegar dressing.
Pomegranates are in season from fall to early winter. A 100g serving of pomegranate seeds has 83 calories and is a good source of Vitamin C, K, folate and fibre and a source of potassium.
Here are some of our favourite pomegranate recipes:
Grapefruit-Pomegranate Ceviche from POM Wonderful: A fresh citrusy appetizer that you’ll want to eat as a main.
Fresh Mozzarella, Pomegranate and Basil Bruschetta from POM Wonderful: What a deliciously sweet appetizer!
Fall Antioxidant Smoothie Bowl from Noelle Parton: This bowl is packed with great nutrients!
Autumn Squash Quinoa from Foolproof Living: Butternut squash and pomegranate seeds are the stars of this autumn bowl. The perfect fall lunch!
What are your favourite pomegranate recipes?
