Jeanne
curtglasfordI have a problem buying produce. Pomegranates are no exception. I love them – the flavor is both sweet and tart, and tastes like nothing else on earth. Also the seeds look like jewels.
But god, they are a pain to deal with. Why must so many delicious things be encased in ridiculousness, like the artichoke?
You will need:
A pomegranate
A cutting board
A big, sharp knife
A bowl of water
So. Off we go! Our opponent:
Behold the pomegranate. The skin is almost leathery and the fruit should feel heavy for its size. If you shake it and you can hear things knocking around, step away – this is food, not a maraca.
Cut the pomegranate in half, straight through the bloom (the knobby looking thing at the top in the photo above is the bloom).
I win! Warning – pomegranate juice is bright red and will stain. Don’t wear your fancy clothes.
Pick a side, and pull away the skin and one of the lobes of the pomegranate.
Over the bowl of water, push the little red seed things (they are actually called arils) gently off the white pulpy stuff. The seeds will sink, but any leftover white stuff will float to the top of the water.
Hats off to Alton Brown for the tip – hopefully despite the crappy photo you can see the white pulp floating away from the seeds.
Once you’re done, push the white pulp out of the water and into the sink or a waiting bowl. Drain the pomegranate seeds, and this is what you have left:
See? Pretty little jewels of pomegranate.
