A Foray Into the World of Pomegranates

How life has changed since preparing, and eating a pomegranate for the first time.

After many years of eating, admiring, and loving fruit, my fruit palette has opened up to the delightful world of pomegranates. Delightful world of pomegranates? That sounds a bit cute for such an ancient fruit. In fact, pomegranates represent royalty, fertility, and gods in the ancient Middle Eastern and Asian cultures of Persia, India, and China where the fruit originates from. Now, the fruit is grown around the world in places like California, where they are often used in decorative modern table art and in dishes for aesthetic appeal. 

My first pomegranate experience was complete. From picking the right piece of fruit from the farmers market stand, to cutting it open, and removing the seeds from the bony interior. The seeds from one fruit graced two dishes, including the pink and orange salad which, in truth, was the catalyst for seeking out the fruit.

Yes, a vision of a pink and orange salad led me to try out the fruit. A fruit that, to be honest, had always seemed too high maintenance. Removing the seeds from the hard skeleton seemed like an arduous process for a pile of small seeds. Surprisingly, the process of de-seeding the shell was easier than expected. The seeds popped out of the shell rather easily. The biggest challenge was containing the juice while de-seeding. 

In taste, pomegranate seeds are refreshing and slightly sweet. On top of a salad, the seeds bring together a variety of flavors and textures. Half of the seeds from this pomegranate topped a farm fresh citrus salad (recipe on the website). The rest of the seeds, along with a few slices of cara oranges made for a delightfully refreshing snack. 

In a fruit where the edible parts are liquid filled seeds, it may come as a surprise that pomegranates are an excellent source of nutrition. In a half of a cup of seeds, the fruit boasts 3.5 grams of fiber, 1.5 grams of protein, 14 percent of the daily value of vitamin K, 12 grams of sugar, and antioxidants. 

A 2014 study found that pomegranate juice can help reduce the risk of more than five types of cancer. The study also found that the anti-inflammatory benefits of pomegranate seeds, and the juice had a positive benefit on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. The fruit has shown to benefit the male reproductive system, cognitive function, joint, and skin health among other health benefits. 

This first experience with the fruit changed my perspective from being a pomegranate skeptic to becoming a pomegranate lover. I think that pomegranate seeds will grace every Christmas or Valentine’s Day salad moving forward. I will always think of pomegranate seeds when choosing a dessert, and I don’t think I will ever pass over a table of pomegranates again. If you haven’t already, try the fruit for yourself. However, be warned. You may never be able to ignore a pomegranate again. 

Bon appetit!

Written without AI.