Pomegranates Add Color and Flavor to the Season

Pomegranates Add Color and Flavor to the Season

As the busyness of the holiday season kicks into high gear, it’s also the peak of the season for pomegranates from California. Pomegranates are the perfect way to dress up any dish for the holiday season.

This big, red fruit is full of crunchy juicy-filled seeds, called arils. The juicy, sweet cranberry-like juice with a crunchy seed is a treat. Below are a few tips in how to access the seeds in this large fruit.

• Start by cutting off the top, about a half-inch below the crown.

• Then score the fruit with a sharp knife.

• Open the fruit under a bowl of water, allowing the loose arils to sink to the bottom of the bowl. The underwater method prevents the bright red juice from getting on your clothes as you open the fruit.

• Discard the bitter, white membrane and strain away the water so you are left with a bowl full of ruby-red arils.

Now you can enjoy these beautiful seeds that contribute potassium, vitamin C and fiber simply on their own by the spoonful, as a garnish for any salad, or mixed into yogurt or your breakfast cereal.

Pomegranate arils also add a festive appearance to any bubbly holiday beverage or sprinkled on top of any holiday candy or chocolate-covered treats make this season.

Arils will keep in the refrigerator for approximately five days or frozen for longer storage. Pomegranates are a smart seasonal item to add to your shopping cart and a great stuffer for any stocking.