In the Greek myth of Persephone, the pomegranate is called the fruit of the underworld. This legend tells the story that Persephone was bound to hell because she ate a pomegranate seed(s) from Hades. I don’t know about you, but a pomegranate might just be worth it…to me they’re glamorous and sensuous. Cutting into a pomegranate is like opening a treasure chest…inside you find brilliantly sparkling, sweet-tart flavored ruby-like seeds.
The joy doesn’t stop there though. The pomegranate has anti-inflammatory effects and high levels of anti-oxidants. It offers you potassium, vitamin C and niacin, making this labor intensive fruit worth the effort.
To seed – Slice off the top and the tail of the pomegranate. Cut it in half (or quarter it, if needed) and turn it inside out over a large bowl to get out the majority of the seeds. The remaining seeds you pick out and pull off the pith. The ruby red seed is to be eaten whole. *When refrigerated, pomegranates will keep for up to 2 months.
Eating – In my opinion, the pomegranate deserves respect and is to be eaten by itself. I want to feel spoonful after spoonful of juicy seeds burst in my mouth, not a lame one or two seeds that get lost in a forkful of salad. I want nothing to compete with my pomegranate. My ritual of many years is donning a t-shirt that I’m happy to stain with pomegranate juice, as I seed 2-3 pomegranates at a time. I carry my bowl of precious seeds upstairs and I take pleasure in them as I enjoy a long, warm bath.