How to Eat a Pomegranate!

There are many large pomegranate trees in the old part of Vacavile, the town I grew up in. Some of them are over 50 years old…..

We would raid the trees, come home with lots of fruit but my mom quickly sent us outside to eat our messy red plunder. Our clothes would be stripped off before coming back into the house. If this fruit were ripe in summer it would be better to just eat it naked……

Forget an apple a day, eat a pomegranate a day.

Most people like pomegranates but think they are too messy or just too much of a hassle to eat.

Here is the best technique for eating pomegranates. I learned this from a friend that was born in Iran where pomegranate trees are native and grow wild. She uses lots of pomegranates and pomegranate sauce in her cooking and uses this method to get the seeds out.

Watch me eat a pomegranate the easy way!

1. Wash the pomegranate well
2. Hold the pomegranate with the brown knob where the pomegranate attached to the tree pointing towards the floor.
3. Then horizontally cut the pomegranate in half
4. Take one half and hold it over a large bowl and beat the outside of the pomegranate with a large spoon until all the seeds have fallen into the bowl
5. Then do the same thing with the other half

This takes all of about one minute and then you can eat the seeds with a spoon out of the bowl.

MUCH easier than cracking it open and trying to pick through all the white pith!

I eat pomegranate seeds by the bowl full…..

Since it is so easy to get the seeds out we put them all over our food. They are a favorite in all green salads and as a topping to steamed chard and other greens.

We put them in water and teas and they add a wonderful touch to wine or champagne during the holidays. They go well on cereals, oatmeal and sprinkled on top of warm rice.

Pomegranate builds the blood, reduces plaque buildup, enhances blood vessel health and is a general cardiovascular tonic. It’s loaded with vitamins A, C, E and is also full of iron.

It is a good food for anyone needing iron supplementation. Because of its iron and blood building properties pomegranate is a women’s health tonic especially during times of menstruation and child bearing.

This ancient red fruit is more antioxidant than blueberries, red wine and green tea. This fruit is seriously good for you! Now that you know the easy way, eat more pomegranate!