Friday, October 15, 2010

Pomegranate Process

I love pomegranates. What I don't like is the CSI crime scene that results in my kitchen when I try to extract the juicy seeds from the pith. That, and I've ruined at least two t-shirts (why, oh why, do I never put the darned apron on??).

My friend Marsha made a delicious spinach salad for retreat a few years ago and now it is a regular item on the menu. You can use grapes, or when they are in season (NOW!) pomegranates. At some point last year, I discovered 'the pomegranate process'. I'm not sure where...maybe it was a cooking magazine sidebar tip? Maybe a culinary website? I can't remember. It's worth sharing, so here goes (recipe to follow).

At the market, choose a fruit that is deep cranberry red and firm. At home, put on your apron. Fill a large bowl with tepid water - keep it in the sink. Then, over the kitchen sink, trim the top off of your ripe pomegranate.

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With the tip of a paring knife, score the flesh of the pomegranate in vertical lines from the trimmed top down to the centre bottom dividing the fruit into about 5 segments. Holding the fruit UNDER the water with both hands, crack it open.

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Gently break the whole thing apart into large chunks. Working under the water with both hands, open the pith sections and gently nudge the seeds away with your fingers.

Now, here's the magic. The seeds will SINK and the pith will FLOAT!!

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And your kitchen and t-shirt will remain free of scary, B-grade-horror-film-pomegranate-juice- spatters!

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Ta-Dah!!!

Now you can make this yummy, good for you salad. Thanks Marsha!

STUFF YOU NEED
1/4 C crumbled feta cheese
1/4 C toasted pine nuts
1 head romaine lettuce
1/2 bag washed baby spinach
1/2 C pomegranate seeds (or seedless red grapes cut in 1/2)

DRESSING
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1/3 c. olive oil
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard or 1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. oregano

ENJOY!



16 comments:

Cyndi loves to stitch said...

A big Ta Dah!!!! am passing this along to DD's 1 & 3 who love this salad but only eat when someone else makes it, lol!!! They don't like the mess either, hurray for a terrific tutorial on poms!!!

Amy Friend said...

Oh my goodness! What great information! I love the taste of pomegrantes and the recipe sounds great too. Thanks for sharing!

felicity said...

GREAT tip!

Mette said...

Thanks, Krista. I love pomegranates!

Krista said...

Oh yum! I've never known what to do with a pomegranate, but now that you've shown me, I think I must make this salad.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the recipe! I must try that, I've never bought a pomegranate in my life!

paulette said...

I have got to try this!! Love pomegranates and so good for you! Thanks for sharing!
Paulette

VickyB said...

I also got that tip from someone and what a mess saver. Thanks for the recipe, I will definitely try it. Also use pomegrante in winter waldorf salad.

Tiffany said...

I love pomegranates and my mom does too! As a kid growing up, my mom would always put a pomegranate in my Christmas stocking. Thanks for the good memory.

That salad sounds delicious and those photos are absolutely yummy! Makes me want to go to the store right this minute. And I think I'm going to need a pomegranate margarita to go with that!

9patchnurse said...

I have never bought, eaten, or even tasted a pomegranate before but I know they are really food for you. I'm so glad I saw your tip and the recipe. I can't wait to try it! Sounds delicious!

Edith Bieri-Hanselmann said...

Thanks Krista for this great tip!
Greetings from Switzerland
Edith

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

Greetings from another non-apron-wearer-to-my-mother's-frustration! You made me hungry (again); it looks delicious!
I have never cooked with pommegranate myself, but love the taste and the colour.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

This is fabulous!! I have always wanted to know if there was a clever way to separate the seeds and the pith. I can't wait to try this!!

ayumills said...

Wow I didn't know you can use water to separate the seeds from the pith. How amazing! Now I can buy pomegranates without worrying about the spatters!

quiltmom anna said...

I love pomegranates Krista- they were one of my favorite fruits and take forever to eat if you just peel them so your tip is very cool.
Your recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Anna

Tracey Jacobsen said...

CSI scene! so true!

My problem is getting the sink cleaned out and empty so I can do this. :) Our "neighbor" has 3 pomegranate trees down the road a bit... we have 6 sitting on our counter at the moment.

But the recipe sounds so yummy! mmm...