Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Punicas Granatum

I have a vague, distant memory of eating pomegranate as a kid. Bittersweet hard little red seeds and rivulets of red juice running down my arms as I tried to pop the seeds into my mouth without getting any of the white pith. That has to be over 60 years ago. It's no wonder my memory of the incident is vague. Pomegranates were not a frequent visitor to the fruit bowl when I was a kid. Nor have they been part of my adult life.

The health benefits and high anti-oxidant content of pomegranates has been highly touted by the food industry of late. Rather amusing, as by the time the food giants get done with their processing, I can't imagine there is a single nutrient left. Not to mention that the processing has changed the molecular structure enough not only to remove all beneficial aspects, but has changed its profile to a product completely devoid of nutrition.
Yet another processed food promoting weight gain and ill health, while contributing significantly to the corporate bottom line. What a shame.

Eating live foods, in their natural form, meaning as found in nature, with no processing, is the only way to derive the benefits each has to offer. Once a fruit or vegetable has been processed: heated, cooked, canned, it has lost its life giving benefits.

Pomegranates are in season and on sale at my local supermarket this week. How could I resist bringing home a couple of red beauties. But how best to peel and de-seed them?

Ah, the benefits of the 21st century technology. I simply turned to the Internet and queried "how to eat a pomegranate". Wow, lots of advice, written, pictorial tutorials and even several YouTube entertaining spots.

After perusing several, I chose to use the advice from MidEast Foods. Check out the step by step tutorial for ease, efficiency and a no mess method of retrieving those dandy little red seeds!


Cut slices from top and bottom and then score around the fruit. Place pieces in a large bowl of cold water and let them rest for 10 to 15 minutes. The heavy seeds will fall to the bottom of the bowl, the white pith floats on the top. Scoop out the white pieces then retrieve the nutritious seeds.

Use caution: the juice stains easily.


Seeds from one pomegranate, ready to scoop into the mouth by the spoonful, or to use in smoothies or tossed with fruit salads. Make your own pomegranate juice, without heating or adding synthetic chemicals. Get the nutrition that Nature intended. It's quick, easy and good!

Ruby Red Pomegranate Seeds









3 comments:

l said...

Wow!It makes me hungry after looking at the pictures.By the way,I have the same name as you,Joyce!

darcy said...

Pomegranate's were one of my favorite treats when I was a kid. I discovered the amazing bowl of water trick only last year, but prior to that felt the pith fight was well worth the final pay-off. We are so lucky out here in Southern California to have a climate that supports pomegranate trees. The first time I saw one with ripe pomegranates hanging I was speechless.
Must run to the market today and grab a few! (or scope out the neighborhood for a tree!)

Anonymous said...

My grandmother was a mythology teacher (as well as Latin and math) and I LOVED the story of Persephone as a child, so I always was obsessed to count the seeds I ate, had to make sure to have enough that we would still have summer and winter! I wanna try this water trick, I usually just make a mess, but worth it. These are very nice in green salads too, a touch of sweet and a gorgeous color point. (Your photos are looking great, J.!)