[nanacoon]

In the post under Cooking Dry Beans, we started talking about pomegranates...I thought I'd start another thread about them. Up until two years ago, I'd never purchased or tasted one of them, I wanted to try new foods so I bought one and checked out information about them on Google. I learned that you don't cut into them because the seeds are juicy and the juice can stain your clothes. You score the outside shell with a knife just deep enough to let you start pulling the skin off the fruit. Break open the white membrane sections and release the pom seeds. They look exactly like bright red kernels of corn. Each kernel contains a seed and a very healthy juice. I dump all the kernels into a bowl and rinse them with water to cover, and then pick out any sections of white membrane. Drain them well and enjoy. I like them with yogurt, with granola and just plain in a bowl. You can also use them in tossed salads. They're only available in November and December in our area, so I always look forward to them at this time of year.
Rhonda mentioned persimmons.... I've never had one of those, so I guess that will be my next quest, I don't think I've ever seen them in any of our stores... but it will be fun searching. Bonnie

[sailgal]

Another beautiful picture, Bonnie!

I love pomegranate but I never knew exactly how to open them without getting squirts of red juice all over my kitchen. Thank you for the great information.

Several years ago I read a recipe for a mixed drink that used pomegranate juice and seeds. I think it was some sort of Oprah favorite thing. We made them for a party over the holidays and they were so pretty and tasted great. I hadn't thought about it until I saw your picture...I will have to try to find the recipe. I've always liked the seeds in tossed salads, too but never thought of mixing them with yogurt - sounds yummy.

Thanks for the tips!

Cindy

[Leeney]

I think I read somewhere that you can freeze the seeds, so stock up now, freeze some, and have them available year round.

[nanacoon]

Good idea Leeney, I did that last year with fresh cranberries and I haven't run out of them yet. I use a lot of cranberries in my stewed fruit that I have every morning on my hot wheat cereal. I use equal parts of raisins, chopped prunes, cranberries and my homegrown rhubarb (Cattrix gave me the idea to use rhubarb).... add water and cinnamon... and stew it up, until slightly thickened. NO sugar needed as it's sweet enough already, and use about two tablespoons of the fruit mixed in with your hot cereal. I make about a pint and a half of it at a time. Bonnie

[Leeney]

Sounds yummy, Bonnie. Tell me about the rhubarb. Do you freeze it and if so, how?

[nanacoon]

Hi Leeney, Are you referring to the stewed fruit mixture or just the rhubarb?
If it's just the rhubarb info that you need - here's what I do.
I have my own rhubarb plants and I'm continually pulling stalks from them to use - from as soon as they're a little larger than pencil size and at least a foot high. Rhubarb is considered a Spring Tonic and is the first "crop" of the year. This year our first "crop" will be parsnips.
I just wash the rhubarb stalks, remove the leaves and discard them, dice the stalks in half inch chunks, make sure they're patted dry and place them on a paper lined tray. Freeze until frozen then pour into a bag and keep frozen until you need it.
If it's individually frozen, it's much easier to scoop out what you need instead of having a frozen block of it. Bonnie

[Leeney]

Thanks Bonnie, that's just what I wanted to know.

[Cattrix]

Ummm I love pomegranates they are really expensive though, I think my DH says he saw some for 3 dollars a piece !!! Yikes... but the juice is very good for you with some reported anti inflammatory properties. I have a friend who has the same type of arthritis as I do and she swears that the juice is great for psoriatic arthritis.
Great photo Nanacoon
Regards
and Hugs
Cat

[nanacoon]

Good morning Cat, $3.00 is expensive for one - the price in our local stores was $2.50 each and then I saw some in WallyWorld last week for $1.88 each but they looked a little smaller than the ones I bought. By the time you get the peel and the membranes removed, that doesn't leave you much to eat. I just use a spoonful of them tossed on my yogurt and orange sections mostly for the color and variety of taste that only comes once a year. Bonnie

[janthewalker]

Hello, Bonnie:

Well, I finally bought my first pomegranate a couple of days ago & cut into it this evening when I finally had a chance. I paid $2.99 for mine, but it is HUGE. So now I have a bowl full of red seeds & I'm going to rinse them next. You said you put them over yogurt, but I've cut out dairy. Perhaps I can cook them with some agave or just put them over cereal tomorrow morning. So you can eat them raw or cooked? I'm not sure about this because I don't do any of the things you mentioned earlier in this blog re stewing rhubarb, etc.

By the way, I think they are a pain to work with & get the seeds out for consumption. I got some juice on my top even though I thought I was covered with a towel, as to spattering!! AAacckk. Perhaps that is why the pomegranate juice is so expensive, which I have purchased in the past!! Not sure if I will buy another one at this point.

[nanacoon]

Good Morning Jan... I cringed when I read your words, "I cut into them"... it's safer to just score the pomegranate skin just enough to allow you to pull off the outer skin without cutting into the seeds. That way you don't get juice on your clothing. They are delicious just eaten raw by themselves.. crunchy, juicy, flavorful and healthy. I've never tried to cook them or even heat them up, so I don't know how that would go. I've got them on my grocery list for later this morning... they're two for $5.00 in our area. Bonnie

[janthewalker]

Well, I found that if I just scored it & tried to pull the pith away it was not so easy to get at all the seeds. I looked them up on google & one of the sites listed several different ways to open them up. Since one of the ways was to just cut it in quarters, I decided to do just that with the rest of it since scoring it didn't seem to work very well for me.

[Leeney]

I found that scoring and peeling works the best. After I score them, I put them in a bowl of cold water to take the seeds out. They come away easily and the seeds fall to the bottom and the white pith rises to the top to be skimmed off.

I found them at 2 for $3.00 at a local discount grocery.

[CarteBlanche]

wonderful. I want to try this. Thanks for the lovely post. The picture is wonderful. I was talking to my girlfriend today (a retired head nurse) about pomegranates and she was telling me how she opened hers up. I see you have an even better way. Way to go!

[christopher1]

Its really very nice to hear.... but i am lazy in peeling the skin of it.... but getting them fresh and breaking them and having is good for health..... having daily morning with milk is really very great.....

[clover]

christopher1:

welcome to the rice diet forum. i hope you will check in often with us about your progress. happy ricin!

[mcm]

I enjoy pomegranates. They are very nutritious and delicious. One way I open them very easily is to slice the top about ½ inch. Put the fruit upside down on a bowl of water and with your hands open the fruit. You will have no red juice splattering since it will be submerged in the water. Start loosing the inside, the seeds will sink, membrane will float. Ready to eat!
Can anybody give me the portion equivalent of one fruit for the seeds?
Thanks

[nanacoon]

They are $2.00 each in our area ... and I just found a coupon for 50 cents off for one. Maybe they'll double it, and I'll get one for half-price. I always look forward to the first of November when they first appear in our stores. Bonnie