A pomegranate is a sweet, tart fruit with thick, red skin. While the skin is not edible, it holds hundreds of juicy seeds that you can eat plain or sprinkle on salads, oatmeal, hummus, and other dishes. Bottled pomegranate juice is also an easy way to enjoy some of the health benefits of this delicious fruit.
Today’s dish is great for most diets. It’s vegan with no common allergy triggers, that works well as a fruit salad or as a healthy dessert alternative. It’s made with two autumn fruits, ripe pears and pomegranates, and is a great dish for the holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year. It works well for potlucks. Pomegranates are, of course, a high-fiber, high-antioxidant “superfood” (thanks in part to those hard little edible seeds!). It’ll make you happy to see pomegranates appear in the grocery in the fall…
Most fresh pears in stores are hard and green. You’ll need to ripen them (see below). You may choose to peel the pears or keep the peeling. I use organic fruit when I can. I wash the fruit well, dry them, and leave the peeling on. I still toss with lemon juice to prevent browning. Do not make this dish more than a few hours ahead of serving for best results.
To ripen pears: Pears will happily ripen on your kitchen counter in 4-7 days. Place them in a bowl and check on them regularly to see when they’re ready to eat. Place the pears in a paper bag and leave on the counter to ripen. This method should take about 2-4 days to ripen the pear.
Spiced Pear & Pomegranate
Use organic when available. Serves 4.
Spiced Pear & Pomegranate
Ingredients
- 3 pears cored and cut into wedges
- 1 pomegranate, skin and light-colored membrane removed
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tbsp optional finely chopped nuts i.e almonds or pecans
- 4 sprigs optional garnish of fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Core pear and slice into wedges & place in bowl
- Toss with lemon juice to coat pears
- Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on pears
- In small bowl mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar
- Mix sugar and spices with fruit
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to blend the flavors
- Serve cold in individual dishes
- Optional garnish of mint leaves and nuts
Enjoy!
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The combination of pomegranate and pears sounds delicious. I didn’t realise that pomegranate seeds are a superfood!
This one truly looks delicious and so seasonal, Carol. Merriest day to you!
The same to you Jeanie!
I never see pomegranates until we travel to Greece in September. Only then are they becoming ripe, so we sneak a few into our luggage for home.
I would love to travel to Greece. I think you’re closer than me.
This would be such a lovely light side to serve at Christmas dinner. The pear and pomegranate create such a fabulous flavor combination… and I love the extra zip that the nutmeg and cinnamon add!
It looks delicious.
…looks ;ike a wonderful treat.
Pretty and very Florida-looking!! (in our stores in Oregon you can buy pomegranate seeds in cups — very easy I haven’t looked here yet.).
I hope you like it – it’s very easy to make.
Gracias por la receta. Te mando un beso.
I love pomegranates but don’t eat them very often as it’s one of those things that I always seem to forget exists. This looks like a great recipe. x