Everything to Know About Cooking and Shopping for In Season Pomegranate

The best way to shop? With the seasons. So, every 2 weeks at Kitchen Stories, we’ll be highlighting a different in-season ingredient along with 3 new recipes. To market, we go!

Did you know that a pomegranate is actually a berry?

Tradition has it that the vibrant red fruit with its countless seeds is often referred to as the food of the gods. Some people even believe that it was a pomegranate that Adam and Eve consumed that led to their expulsion from Paradise. Its vibrant red flowers are considered a symbol of love; the fruit itself, with its red seeds, symbolizes fertility.

For cocktail lovers, pomegranate is well-known for being the main ingredient of grenadine syrup, an element in numerous drinks.

But pomegranate also makes quite an impression in the kitchen. The juicy, dark red kernels of the pomegranate are suitable as a topping for various dishes and salads. The combination of a fine acidity and subtle sweetness harmonizes perfectly with Middle Eastern dishes, especially lamb or spiced venison.

What’s your favorite recipe with pomegranate? Tell us in the comments, and upload a picture of your creations for all to enjoy!

1. Hello, My Name is Pomegranate

Nowadays, hardly anyone doubts the health benefits of this superfood. For instance, pomegranates are rich in carcinogenic polyphenol, which are said to have an antioxidant effect. The contained flavonoids contribute to lower cholesterol and keep your blood sugar levels stable. Since the pomegranate tree prefers a tropical or subtropical climate, the plant is grown mainly in India, China, Latin America, the Middle East, Spain and Italy.

2. When and How to Find the Perfect Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a delicious winter treat. The harvest time of this nutritious fruit usually reaches from October through January.

Pomegranates don't ripen after they’re picked, so better make sure only to buy fresh, mature ones. Unripe fruits are very sour and not edible. Choose pomegranates that are relatively heavy and appear in a deep red color. The heavier they are, the more juice they offer. You should also pay attention to the shell—it should not show any cracks or other damage.

3. How to Store Pomegranates

At room temperature, pomegranates remain fresh for about two weeks. They can even last several months in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, or in a cold room with high humidity. Make sure, however, that the fruit is not exposed to excessive heat, because its shell quickly bursts under the effect of heat.

4. How to Prepare Pomegranate

Only the seeds of the pomegranate are edible, as the white pulp tastes very bitter. However, the kernels are quite firmly attached to the rest of the fruit, so it needs a special technique to extract them. Be careful—anyone who has ever taken on a fight with the delicious red kernels knows how hard it is to get to the crisp cores without dying the entire kitchen red.

Have a look at our How-Tos to see how to quickly deseed a pomegranate:

5. What to Make Next

All week long, we’ll be featuring new pomegranate recipes on Kitchen Stories. Check back to see what’s new, then try one for yourself! Here’s where to start: