Pomegranate Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Karry Hosford

A jewel among winter fruits, the pomegranate's distinct citrus flavor and bright red color makes these salsas, sauces, and jams absolutely shine. The window for fresh pomegranates is small, so take advantage and enjoy these juicy gems while you can. Removing the pomegranate seeds, also known as arils, from the fruit can be messy, so we suggest buying small containers of the seeds. Of course, if you have the time to harvest the seeds from the membrane, go for it. It's quite fun. Sprinkle seeds on salads, yogurt, oatmeal, or use them in any of these delicious pomegranate recipes.

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Power to the Pomegranate

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Beef Filets with Pomegranate-Pinot Sauce

While the chillier weather may steal away some favorite summer fruits and veggies, it also delivers a brilliantly-colored array of produce. Fresh pomegranates are in season from September to January, packing a full load of nutrients and health benefits. Try them out in some of our favorite pomegranate recipes.

Our Beef Filets with Pomegranate-Pinot Sauce is a rich and elegant 5-star recipe that will impress any dinner guest. Pomegranate seeds make a pretty garnish (if you want to save time, look for convenient, ready-to-eat seeds in the produce section). Serve with roasted potatoes for a complete meal.

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Pomegranate Paloma

Photo: Greg Dupree

View Recipe: Pomegranate Paloma

Classic palomas call for grapefruit soda. Here, we use fresh grapefruit juice for a fruit-flavored beverage with less sugar and more vitamin C. Pomegranate juice boosts fruity flavor and packs a punch of heart-healthy polyphenols.

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Pine Nuts

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Pine Nuts

To really jazz up your healthy holiday spread, bring a whole roasted cauliflower to the table, and then "carve" and dress it with a light vinaigrette, pomegranate arils, pine nuts, and parsley. Pomegranate adds a refreshing dose of natural sweetness for minimal added sugar.

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Pomegranate-Orange Tart with Pistachio Shortbread Crust

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Pomegranate-Orange Tart with Pistachio Shortbread Crust

A handful of blueberries boosts the color of the filling and deliver irresistible sweetness.

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Curried Chicken Thighs with Pomegranate-Mint Sauce

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

View Recipe: Curried Chicken Thighs with Pomegranate-Mint Sauce

Talk about a company-worthy meal without much effort or a hefty price tag. Serve this easy and elegant entrée over a bed of couscous and with a side of the Steamed Broccoli with Garlic and Red Onion.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini

Pomegranate seeds and tahini paste deliver delightful Mediterranean flavors in this quick winter side. Bonus: each serving, about a half cup only contains 152 calories.

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Spiralized Butternut Squash Toast with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Seeds

Photo: Rachel Johnson

View Recipe: Spiralized Butternut Squash Toast with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Seeds

Toasted bread is a great vehicle to get veggies and protein-packed ingredients, from avocado to almond butter, into your diet. Spiralizing butternut squash makes it easy to top toast, and paired with creamy goat cheese and fresh pomegranate seeds, it makes for a supreme salty-sweet combination. Feel free to substitute whole grain bread or sprouted breads for another option.

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Pomegranate and Pear Jam

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Pomegranate and Pear Jam

Be sure to make extra batches to give as gifts to your friends.

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Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

Photo: José Picayo

View Recipe: Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

This bright, fresh salad of winter greens and sweet-tangy citrus is studded with red pomegranate arils: It's a dramatic, holiday-worthy plate and a welcome course for vegetarians.

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Pear and Pomegranate Bellini

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pear and Pomegranate Bellini

Raise your glass to good friends and family while knocking back this fruity holiday cocktail.

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Pomegranate-Orange Salsa

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Pomegranate-Orange Salsa

This beautiful citrus salad is an excellent complement to chicken or white, flaky fish. You can also serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

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Kale and Pomegranate Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Kale and Pomegranate Salad

Balancing hearty bites of kale and sweet notes of pomegranate, this salad is a flavorful, seasonal way to kick off a holiday meal. Packed with vitamins, and nutrients, kale and pomegranates are both superfoods that make for a wholesome, healthy salad. This starter is colorful and crowd-approved, making it the obvious option for your next hosting gig.

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Roast Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Roast Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce

Although it's budget-friendly, this dish is elegant enough for company. Serve with steamed fresh green beans.

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Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta

Farro, an ancient whole grain similar to quinoa, packs a hearty crunch in this simple breakfast salad. Honey adds a bright, sweetness to play wonderfully with the creamy ricotta cheese. For a tangier citrus flavor, go with lemon; for more floral, sweet notes, try tangerine. To keep prep simple, use purchased pomegranate arils from the produce section, or pre-prep a fresh pomegranate the night before.

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Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail

The fruit's polyphenols, a class of antioxidants, likely help your heart. They contribute to the vibrant flavor, too.

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Roasted Eggplant With Pomegranate, Pickled Chiles, and Pecans

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Roasted Eggplant With Pomegranate, Pickled Chiles, and Pecans

Eggplant is a staple in the Middle East, and they sure do know how to cook it. It's stellar: smoky and light and not at all bitter. The trick is to cook it whole over a gas stovetop burner or on a hot grill. The outside gets all charred as the inside steams, gathering a nice smoky overtone and becoming perfectly cooked. Toasted pecans and pickled jalapeños infuse some Southern accents into the traditional dish. If you can't find pomegranate arils (they come already "shucked" in the produce section), just omit them, or drizzle on a wee bit of pomegranate molasses.

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Chicken With Turnips and Pomegranate Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Chicken With Turnips and Pomegranate Sauce

This comforting, winter dish makes use of delicious pomegranate in two ways: The juice goes into the sauce and the arils, or seeds, go atop the chicken for an elegant touch. One taste, and you know exactly what season it is. The roasted chicken, earthy rice, and peppery turnips are classic comforts, but it's the fruity pomegranate sauce that makes the dish sing. Family friendly and crazy easy to make, this is a chicken dinner you're going to want to add to your weekly rotation.

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Pomegranate Gin Sling

Photo: Jonny Valiant

View Recipe: Pomegranate Gin Sling

A classic gin sling is dressed for festive parties when made with seasonal pomegranate juice and decorated with crimson pomegranate fruit. Both simple syrup and agave syrup are widely available at liquor stores. To make your own simple syrup, boil 2 parts sugar to 1 part water, stirring just until sugar dissolves; reduce until thickened. Cool before using.

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Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie

Antioxidants found in both blueberries and pomegranates can help your body fight aging, cancer, and heart disease.

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Moroccan Roasted Pomegranate Chicken

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Moroccan Roasted Pomegranate Chicken

The most common variety of pomegranate is called Wonderful—and that's only fitting. Experience the true magic of these crunchy-tart jewels when paired with a delicious roasted chicken.

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Pork Medallions with Pomegranate-Cherry Sauce

Photo: Ellen Silverman

View Recipe: Pork Medallions with Pomegranate-Cherry Sauce

Red wine, pomegranate, cherries, and balsamic give a rich, sweet, seasonal tang to the comforting flavor of pan-seared pork.

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Pomegranate Fizz

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Pomegranate Fizz

With only three ingredients plus an optional lime garnish, this sophisticated-looking drink is as simple as they come.

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Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Kale Tabbouleh

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Kale Tabbouleh

This is a fun dish to "carve" at the table, as each person gets one wedge to enjoy as a side dish. For an entrée take, give each person half a squash.

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Garlicky Turnip Fries With Pomegranate Ketchup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Garlicky Turnip Fries With Pomegranate Ketchup

It's turnip time! Take advantage of peak season, and serve up this delicious app.

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Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

Photo: Jonny Valiant

View Recipe: Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

In Mexico, copas de frutas (fruit cups) are popular street food. They typically consist of fresh fruit sprinkled with lime juice and chili powder and are the inspiration for this jewel-colored fruit salad. Jicama (pronounced HEE-kah-mah), also known as a Mexican potato or turnip, tastes like a cross between an apple and a potato and adds crunch to the salad.

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Warm Spiced Cran-Pom Toddies

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Warm Spiced Cran-Pom Toddies

For a nonalcoholic version, simply omit the rum; to make it sweeter, replace the rum with apple juice.

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Fennel-Rubbed Pork with Shallot-Pomegranate Reduction

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Fennel-Rubbed Pork with Shallot-Pomegranate Reduction

This simple quick-to-fix meal will fit your hectic work schedule or busy home life. Serve with walnut couscous.

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Pomegranate-Rosemary Royale

Photo: Ellen Silverman

View Recipe: Pomegranate-Rosemary Royale

This simple twist on the traditional kir royale blends tart-sweet pomegranate juice with subtle herbal notes from a rosemary-infused syrup. Float rosemary leaves on the drinks for a pretty garnish.

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Pork with Pomegranate Pan Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Pork with Pomegranate Pan Sauce

This vibrant dinner can be on the table in just 20 minutes. Serve the pork with our Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes. To make the potatoes, prepare 1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated mashed potatoes according to package directions. Stir in 2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream. Top each serving with 1 teaspoon butter and ½ teaspoon minced fresh chives.

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Pomegranate Cocktail

Photo: Karry Hosford

View Recipe: Pomegranate Cocktail

Blood orange and pomegranate collaborate into a fashionably refreshing cocktail. Garnish with a lime twist, if desired.

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Best Pomegranate Recipes

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Power to the Pomegranate

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Pomegranate Paloma

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Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Pomegranate and Pine Nuts

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Pomegranate-Orange Tart with Pistachio Shortbread Crust

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Curried Chicken Thighs with Pomegranate-Mint Sauce

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini

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Spiralized Butternut Squash Toast with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Seeds

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Pomegranate and Pear Jam

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Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

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Pear and Pomegranate Bellini

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Pomegranate-Orange Salsa

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Kale and Pomegranate Salad

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Roast Lamb with Pomegranate Sauce

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Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta

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Sparkling Pomegranate Cocktail

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Roasted Eggplant With Pomegranate, Pickled Chiles, and Pecans

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Chicken With Turnips and Pomegranate Sauce

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Pomegranate Gin Sling

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Blueberry-Pomegranate Smoothie

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Moroccan Roasted Pomegranate Chicken

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Pork Medallions with Pomegranate-Cherry Sauce

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Pomegranate Fizz

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Acorn Squash with Pomegranate and Kale Tabbouleh

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Garlicky Turnip Fries With Pomegranate Ketchup

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Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

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Warm Spiced Cran-Pom Toddies

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