As you may have noticed, pomegranates are in season! The
grocery store has piles of red pomegranates next to oranges. Decorator-type people use fresh
pomegranates on wreaths and swags, while foodies use them in green salads, in
fresh fruit salads, sprinkled on cereal and as an ingredient in combination
fruit juices.
But have you ever tried to open up a pomegranate to remove
those beautiful red gems of seeds (technically called arils)? Getting the seeds
out (without making a big mess) is not the easiest thing to accomplish, I have
found.
According to Martha (yes, THE Martha), when she was a recent
guest on the Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me radio show, there is a fairly quick and
easy way to remove the seeds from a pomegranate. First, carefully cut through just the pomegranate skin,
slicing it as if you are quartering it. Pull the quarters apart to reveal the
red seeds.
Next, get a big bowl.
Take each quarter, seed side facing your palm, and with your other hand,
tap the tough pomegranate skin with the back of a wooden spoon. The seeds
should pop into the bowl without much effort. Oh, and wear an apron or clothing that you don’t mind a few
stains on, because pomegranates stain fabric like crazy.
Martha has a video clip of this procedure if you’d like to
see it before trying.
As far a nutrition, one-half cup of arils or seeds contain
72 calories, 16 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 1 gram fat and 1 gram
protein, plus 15 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. A pretty and nutritious addition to
your seasonal fruit choices!
