Fruits and Veggies Monday - Pomegranate

Pomegranate, Indian apple, Chinese apple, “The Jewel of Winter”, call it what you will, this delicious fruit is now in season. I get so excited when I see these big beautiful pomegranates at the store. Although I always complain about the price, I can never resist picking up a box when they are available.

Since today is FRUITS & VEGGIES MONDAY hosted by @lenasveganliving, it's a perfect time to talk about this wonderful fruit.

Health Benefits

Aside from being delicious, pomegranate seeds (also known as arils) are also good for you. They are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and dietary fiber (from the seeds, so don’t spit them out!) Pomegranate juice contains a high level of antioxidants, is a powerful anti-inflammatory, and many more health benefits. So what are you waiting for? Go grab yourself a pomegranate!

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Deseeding a Pomegranate

There are a few ways to remove those beautiful little jewels from their protective husk. The way that I have found to be the easiest is to simply cut off the little crown on top and make a small x with a knife. Nothing too big, just enough to stick my thumb through and pull apart. You don’t want to slice it all the way through because you will damage a lot of the seeds. Once you have pulled the pomegranate apart, you are ready to remove the seeds. Hold the pomegranate above a bowl, and hit the outer part with a wooden spoon. After all the seeds have come out, fill the bowl with water. The seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl, and the white membrane will float to the top, and you can easily remove it. Drain, and store arils/seeds in an airtight container. They will hold nicely for about a week in the refrigerator, or you can freeze them.

Eating Pomegranates

I will be honest. I usually just eat the seeds just as they are. Nothing added at all. I find them to be so refreshing and satisfying. However, there are many ways to use fresh pomegranate seeds. You can make smoothies, juice, pomegranate molasses, add it to salads and many other savory dishes.

I decided to make a dressing this time around. I love making my own dressings, they are easy to make, and you control exactly what goes into it. For this dressing, I used a Vitamix blender. You can use any high-speed blender, but if you don’t have one, you may need to strain the dressing to remove little pieces of the seeds.