How to Clean a Pomegranate
When I think of the Fall, one of the images that comes to mind is the eating of pomegranates. Those little rubies of juicy tartness that you can just pop into your mouth to wake up your tastebuds. Pomegranates are in season from September to February in the Northern Hemisphere, and we tend to eat them during October and November. How to clean a pomegranate can be a challenge, but it is SO worth it.
Pomegranates are one of the current, trendy “wonder foods” that you are seeing pop into salads, cocktails, curries and more on food blogs. TV cooking shows and restaurants. Every Fall, they are in my house. Always have been and always will be. Of course, they have been part of the food chain much longer than my fascination. The pomegranate is being touted as a wonder food due to it’s traditional medicinal uses that have been around for centuries.
Well then, eats those lovely arils (the “seeds”)!!
As a wee one, I called them “yummy pits”. You can see why. For my birthday, I would get one and my parents would sit me down in the middle of the den on a mat of newspapers and wearing old clothes where I could have at it. It was always a mess, but oh so good.
Well, I have plenty of messes around my house these days, thank you. However, I want my kiddos to enjoy these fall treats, so I have been in pursuit of a cleaner alternative to the popping, crunching opening of a pomegranate I knew as a kid.
How to Clean a Pomegranate
Supplies:
- Pomegranates
- Medium bowl
- Water
- Kitchen knife
- Hand strainer
Procedure:
1) Fill bowl 2/3 of the way with water.
2) Slice X’s into the base of each pomegranate and set into bowl to soak for 10 minutes.
3) Tear the pomegranates into 1/4s and gently roll the arils into bowl.
4) The pulp remnants will float on top and the seeds will sink.
5) Skim the excess pulp from the surface of the water and discard.
6) Scoop the arils from the bowl and remove any extra pieces of pulp that have strayed behind.
Your arils are ready for snacking, a favorite dish or cocktail.
All of this being said, I still think I will take my kiddos outside to enjoy the messy version of the pomegranate that made it so enjoyable to eat as child.
And just to show I can handle being outdone. Here is POM’s version…in a tux. Very classy. on Vimeo. How to Open a Pomegranate in Six Movements from POM Wonderful.
How to Open a Pomegranate in Six Movements from POM Wonderful on Vimeo.
Here is some more Fall inspiration:
