(click on above photo for a slideshow of 7 photos on how to open a pomegranate)
Pomegranate is one of the messiest fruits in the world! The ruby red juice stains anything and everything it comes in contact with.
Mom used to make all of us wear our rattiest, nastiest shirts when we had pomegranates because after eating, we’d just throw our shirts away. A few times when we didn’t have an old shirt to spare so we donned those silly lobster bibs that we “stole” from a restaurant.
But there is a MUCH easier way to open a pomegranate with zero squiring mess. Really, there is! I was recently on both CBS and ABC in the Tampa, Florida area demonstrating the trick to opening and extracting the jewels without having to repaint your walls red…come see the video and 2 recipes – (video starts automatically after the jump)
How to open a pomegranate
On CBS (video starts automatically)
PrintPomegranate & Prosciutto Salad
Serves 4
4 ounces ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
1 cup walnut halves
1/4 cup brown sugar
Pinch salt
4 handfuls of baby greens
4 ounces gorgonzola cheese
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
Store-bought pomegranate salad dressing
Place the prosciutto slices on a baking sheet and broil for 3-4 minutes until crisp. Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add the walnut halves and toast the walnuts for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle the brown sugar and salt on top and stir. The brown sugar will begin to melt and the walnuts will get a bit sticky. Once the brown sugar has all melted, remove from heat and place the walnuts on a plate to cool.
Assemble salad with baby greens, gorgonzola cheese, pomegranate seeds, walnuts and the crispy prosciutto. Toss with the pomegranate dressing.
Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
Here’s my latest obession – Pama Pomegranate Liqueur – it’s the absolute perfect sweet/tart taste and made from all natural pomegranate juice. I use it to deglaze my pan in place of wine when cooking chicken or pork chops.
photos courtesy of Pama Liqueur
Pama and Soda
2 ounces Pama pomegranate liqueur
club soda (or ginger ale)
lime wedge or lemon peel spiral for garnish
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
you’re a genius — i always wondered how to do it…
Thanks for this! No more mess! : )
Oh I wish I knew this last week! What a neat trick! My hubby loves Pomegranates, and I think he will be quite impressed. After seeing this recipe, I want none of my T-day leftovers now!
Jaden:
I am always so amazed watching you on the show as you negotiate cooking techniques from what must be one of the most awkward of seating arrangements. And with pomegranates this time, no less! They couldn’t at least move you away from those clumsy chairs and low table to something more suitable for wielding a knife and large bowl full of water?
Well, you did great and it was a fun segment! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Caron
LOOK you’ve graduated to a “chair”!!
I alsways wondered how to do it.
I have a qeustion: I want to make Pama and soda, but i did not ever have seen pama in the Netherlands. I also never have asked people about it. Can i make myself Pama from pomegranates and fixed up with any liqueur and club soda (or ginger ale)
lime wedge or lemon peel spiral for garnish?
I think it much be a wonderful drink., thanks you for the recipe.
With a pomegranates greetings,
Gandamora P.D. Siregar.
I thought I knew how to open a pomegranate, but I was wrong. Brilliant. Like many things…why didn’t I think of that before? (!) Cheers x
hey! thank you SO much! i bought a pomegranate a couple of days ago and was dreading having to peel it… you made it look so easy and fun that i want to do it now!
Except for the dunking in water part, I do everything else the same way. I never thought of water!
I never bought or had pomegranate at home…thanks for the tip.
Your Pama & soda looks wonderfully refreshing!
The pic is mesmerizing! You go on with your bad self you superstar!
Fun! Love watching you on tv. I’ll say it again… food network, where are you?? Jaden is here just waiting for her own show
That Pama stuff looks oh so evil and yummy!
I will have to show this one to my kids. They always mangle the pomegranate but still manage to get the seeds out. Now, what is the best way to juice them?
Modnar – to juice a pomegranate, put the seeds in a blender and blend away. Strain in cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer!
I’m going to give it a try. The reason we bypass pomegranates in the supermarket is because it is so doggone hard to eat!
That’s a great tutorial on how to open a pomegranate! Thanks!
I love pomegranate, but its a rare occasion that I have the patience to harvest every last jewel from them, so I usually just wind up eating it right then and there and hardly ever cook with them. I love the sound of that salad though–that sounds like something I’ll need to try!
Oh my gosh you’re brilliant! I love eating pomegranate and always make a huge mess. I’m saved now. Thank you Jayden!
Great tip and will save me $$ as I always buy pom seeds in a pre pack at the store.
That first picture is so fantastic.
Wow, that’s awesome, Jaden! Hm… so, when will u teach us how to open a durian and a jackfruit? hehehe
Your instruction is just in time for me to make my pomegranate topped guacamole! Thanks for offering me a cleaner prep solution that will allow my kitchen, hands, and clothes to stay cleaner!
I just saw a bit about this on Gourmet; but, I like your idea better, less mess!!! Great idea!
I usually pick off the seeds one by one
Cheers,
Nice video.
I do use a different technique that works just as well and do find more convenient.
I do cut the pomegranate in half, take a spoon and start hitting the pomegranate on the outside with the back of the spoon. If the cut part of the pomegranate is facing the floor (or a bowl), after a few hits the seeds will start to “rain” due to the vibration of the hits.
The seeds will keep their shape, and the T-shirt will keep its color.
Hope it helps.
Thanks so much for this informative post, Jaden! I had never tried pomegranate before, but I bought one at the grocery last night and your method worked like a dream.
“A few times when we didn’t have an old shirt to spare so we donned those silly lobster bibs that we “stole” from a restaurant.”
Great details.
Out here in California, frozen yogurts shops such as Red Mango are use pomegranate in their fro yo flavors.
keep writing!
Wow, this is great! I never thought of this as a way to open a pomegranate. I’ll have to pick one up at the store now and try it myself. Thanks Jaden!
Tasted my first pomegranate just this Thanksgiving! I too fell victim to I-don’t -know-what-to-with-it, let alone how to open it =) Thanks for taking away the mystery, Jaden. Time to go get some more!
Fantastic tips! Thanks, Jaden.
Jaden, this is a great tip, but I also have a personal trick of my own. Actually, I saw this on numerous episodes of The Iron Chef: American series.
Cut the pomegranate in half, and with a spoon, hit the skin side over and over again. Somehow, the seeds just fall out! No white rind at all!
Try it and let me know how it works for you.
This is perfect! I just opened my first pomegranate (ok, I’m officially the last person to try this fruit!) and, yes, spattered my kitchen in juice! Now I know my 2nd pomegranate will be perfect
Thanks!!!
Now I know how to get the seeds out and what to do with them. Do you eat the pulp as well? Thanks. Dawn
Eat the juicy red seeds! discard the white pith.
Actually I think this guy (boy what a weirdo) has an easier method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGgI65Ru2Yo
With love,
Bunny Suit Boy
That is genuis! No longer do I have to look like a messy murderer to open one of the best fruits ever. What a relief. Where did you learn this handy trick? One of those not-so-secret family legends?
-Mary
That is genius! No longer do I have to look like a messy murderer to open one of the best fruits ever. What a relief. Where did you learn this handy trick? One of those not-so-secret family legends?
-Mary
Did it have to post that twice, making me look like an over-zealous clicker?
Instead of cutting off the ends, I just cut two belly button one on each end and then score the sides. I never have used the water idea. I just use a bowl and pig out on the wonderful fruit