A big thank you to my husband Bryan McKinnon for taking all the pictures for this post.
The name pomegranate means seeded apple. It’s often used as a religious symbol of fruitfulness, as each fruit contains around 600 arils! This fruit is delicious on its own, and is often added to Persian dishes, like soups and salads.
First, cut the pomegranate in half with a sharp blade.
The juicy kernels are called arils. Some Mediterraneans eat the white segments between the arils, but I discard it with the skin.
Next, cut each half into 3 or 4 segments. Hold each segment by its end and invert the segment’s arc, forcing the arils to loosen and separate. You can do this step in a sink or bowl of water to avoid splashing yourself with pom juice, if you like.
Finally, discard the skin and white segments and enjoy!
A word of caution: the juice will stain, so if you’re feeding it to children, I recommend letting them wear play clothes and eating outside. If the juice gets on something you really like, like it got on my white kitchen curtains in my first pomegranate experience, simply rinse with cold water and wash immediately.
Have fun being creative with this refreshing treat!