Pomegranates contain a hidden treasure.
The word pomegranate is derived from a Latin word that means "apple of numerous seeds," according to Produce-Pete. Pomegranates are a bit bigger and heavier than oranges, with a smooth, thick reddish skin. Inside are dozens of tiny orbs filled with red, tart pomegranate juice. Since you can't bite into a pomegranate and the seeds inside are small and easily broken, figuring out get them in your mouth can be a challenge. Many feel the exotic treat is worth the fuss.
Instructions
1. Select a ripe pomegranate from a grocery store or fresh market. Choose one that is large and heavy; the heaviness of the fruit indicates how much juice is stored inside.
2. Slice the skin and peel it back. Reveal the white membrane with the red pomegranate seeds nestled inside. Pluck each one from the skin carefully without breaking the seeds in the process. Eat the seeds; they contain the juice.
3. Slice off the top of the pomegranate, which is called the crown, if you don't want to go through the trouble of plucking out each seed. Once the crown is removed, slice the fruit lengthwise into six sections without splitting the fruit apart. Soak the pomegranate in a bowl of warm water for approximately 10 minutes.
4. Use your fingers to pull the fruit apart while it is still in the bowl of water. Observe as the seeds float to the bottom of the bowl, while the rind and the membrane float to the top. Pour off the top water to get rid of all but the seeds. Pour the seeds and remaining water into strainer. Pour the strained seeds back into the bowl.
5. Eat the seeds carefully without releasing the juice onto your hands or clothing. Remember that pomegranate juice stains quickly and easily. Eat the seeds plain or sprinkle them with sugar or salt.
6. Combine the pomegranate seeds with other foods. Eat them with yogurt, sprinkled over salad or fruit, or as a garnish for fish or other cooked foods.
7. Extract pomegranate juice. Put the seeds into a blender or juicer; add other fruits or juices as desired. Serve drinks chilled or frozen, and freeze any unused portion for later. You can also make pomegranate juice into sorbet. To extract juice directly from the fruit, roll it around on a hard surface before peeling, using enough pressure to burst the seeds inside. Stick a straw into the fruit and suck out the juice directly.
Tags: pomegranate juice, pomegranate seeds, carefully without, fruit apart, juice directly