Pomegranate Opening Made Easy
I remember my first encounter with a pomegranate. It was exactly ten years ago. I was in a college production of Three Penny Opera. Doug was the assistant director and if you had told me then he would one day be my husband I would have laughed in your face!
Anyway, back to pomegranates. There was a Bread and Circus (later to become a Whole Foods) health food store near the theater. On one lunch break a fellow cast member came back with a pomegranate and proceeded to eat it seed by seed. It looked so delicious that I went the next day and picked up my own. I had no idea how to open one and the juice got all over me. My hands had a pink tint for days.
Ten years later I still love pomegranates (and now Doug as well!). They are full of antioxidants, can be used in tons of recipes, and are just delicious! But, before you can eat them you have to get the arils (those pesky red “seeds”) out. Here’s how to do it with little mess:
- With a sharp knife score the skin of the pomegranate four times making quarters
- Submerge the pomegranate in a bowl of water break it into quarters along the score marks
- With your hands under water gently remove the arils from the membrane and outer skin
- Discard the membranes and outer skin
- Strain the water from the arils using a sieve or colander
- Remove any remaining pieces of membrane
Your pomegranate is now ready for use!
I will be posting a bunch of pomegranate recipes in the coming weeks so be sure to check back often!
