Okay...
Who knew?
Foremost, this must be the most Zen fruit (er...berry) known to mankind. There is no way to quickly prepare this...and I thought picking blackberries was a mindful task. Starting by slicing off the crown end (shown here) then carefully cut in half. This is best done over a sink. You can see why these were mentioned in Exodus as it it amazing just how much juice they store. If I were wandering forty days and forty nights in the desert...these would be at the top of MY list.
You end up with something looking a lot like this.
Large fleshy seeds as though a giant blackberry has exploded inside the white pulp of the Pomegranate. Now comes that Zen part I was telling you about.
The seeds must be loosened. By hand. Carefully. Otherwise they will self-destruct and all you will have is red fingers and an eye full of juice...which stops everything for a few seconds, trust me...loaded with Vitamin C...the citric acid will get your attention.
There are literally hundreds of them.
The process takes forever. A standing and preparing meditation, as it were. It will help cultivate patience.
Even if your mantra becomes "...dammit..." occasionally.
The white pithy part is bitter, inedible and basically compost.
Break the pith apart to find hidden seed clusters.
And Tah-Dah...Pomegranate.
The white "seed" in these (aril) is much the same as a blackberry and edible...crunchy...the flavor is sweet/tart...amazing. Good tossed into salad or with green beans. Can be used in chutney with meat, too. Or just eaten by the handful as a healthy snack!
I am going to attempt Pomegranate jelly soon.
So another culinary hurdle cleared.
Recipe du jour:
Pomegranate/Cranberry Sauce for Thanksgiving
Directions
- Peel and core apples, and put peelings and cores in a small saucepan with pomegranate seeds, 1/2 cup juice, and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 30 minutes.
- Chop the peeled apples, and place in a large saucepan. Remove zest from half of one orange, chop very fine, and add to apples. Peel oranges, chop coarsely, and add to pan along with cranberries and remaining juice and sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Remove small pan from heat, and strain juice into larger pan. Cool solids slightly, and then push though a sieve to remove seeds and peels, adding remaining pulp to larger pan. Stir in nuts, if desired. Cook about 10 minutes longer. Serve warm, room temperature, or chilled.
- PREP 30 mins (assuming you have seeded the Pomegranates ahead of time)
- COOK 45 mins
- READY IN 1 hr 15 mins
My morning cup...black tea sweetened with a smidge of Maple syrup and a bit of cream. The Indiana temperatures hovering in the mid-thirties this morning. The Tucker Cat nesting in the quilts on "his" corner of my bed. A late night chat with a photo-buddy near Miami yesterday surprised me with photos of the beach erosion left in the wake of Sandy as it skirted by offshore. The East Coast seems to be imminently a direct hit. Reminding everyone you can never be too prepared. Stay safe.
http://store.henrilechatnoir.com/
And more news on the Henri front as the "little cat big on ennui" goes wildly viral. Yesterday, he managed to get noticed by ABC news. The above link brings you to "all things Henri" and yes...I have already ordered my tee-shirt and mug :)
See everyone tomorrow...
