Homemade pomegranate juice is so much tastier and economical than the packaged one that you will never buy it again once you make it at home. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to peel a pomegranate easily and how to make pomegranate juice.
Here are some more fresh homemade juice recipes that you may want to try – Watermelon Juice, Amla Juice, Pumpkin Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Watermelon Ginger Juice.
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About This Recipe
We as a family love to drink seasonal fruits and vegetable juices on a regular basis as they are very nutritious. I keep juicing different fresh fruits at home including pomegranates.
In today’s post, I am sharing how to peel the pomegranates easily and how to make pomegranate juice at home using the kernels. This ruby red juice is super easy to make at home with just one ingredient, pomegranates.
Sweet and tart in taste and vibrant deep red in color, homemade pomegranate juice is so much better, lighter, and tastier than the store-bought one. I can assure you that if you make it at home once, you will never buy a carton again.
Not only is homemade juice very delicious, but it is also free of preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors. It is much economical to make at home too.
Apart from drinking it as it is, you can also use it to make Pomegranate Molasses, a popular Middle Eastern ingredient that is used to make many recipes like Baba Ganoush or Pomegranate Chicken.
You can also use it to make smoothies, spritzers, cocktails, popsicles, granitas, etc. I love to add some of it to my Shikanji Recipe to give it a lovely twist. And do not forget to try my refreshing Pomegranate Raita which is also made using fresh pomegranate juice.
How To Choose Pomegranates
When you buy pomegranates, make sure that they are hard and don’t have any soft patches.
I have heard many people saying that the best pomegranates are the ones with shiny bright skin but in my personal experience has not been the same. When I buy pomegranates, I look out for slightly cracked skin and a few brown patches all over.
If possible, source them from a farmer’s market rather than a grocery store.
In India, we get pomegranates with light pink-colored kernels and dark ruby red kernels. Always try to choose the ruby red ones as they are sweeter and juicier.
These days, pomegranates are available all year round, but their best season is between October until December. So make the most of this time and make this juice regularly to get the maximum benefit of this fruit.
Health Benefits Of Pomegranate
Pomegranate has many health benefits. It is very rich in Iron and is very beneficial for anemic people.
It is also rich in Vit C, which is an integral part of iron metabolism. Pomegranate also has some impressive anti-inflammatory properties.
It is said to be very effective when it comes to certain types of cancer such as prostate cancer and breast cancer.
It also helps in controlling blood pressure levels. Also, If you have arthritis or joint pains, pomegranate can do wonders for you.
Pomegranates also lower the risk of heart disease.
How To Peel The Pomegranates
There are multiple ways by which you can peel the pomegranates and take out the kernels but the method that I am sharing today is life-changing. It’s super quick, no mess and you get all the kernels out from the pomegranates very effectively.
Tip – Always wear old clothes or an apron while handling the pomegranates. Their stains don’t go very easily from the cloth. Also, try to use an old chopping board and steel or a glass bowl to collect the seeds. The stains won’t go away from plastic bowls.
Wash the pomegranates and wipe them using a kitchen cloth.
Now cut the pomegranate in half using a sharp knife.
Keep a large bowl on the kitchen counter and hold one-half of the pomegranate over the bowl with the cut side down.
Now start to hit the pomegranate using something heavy. I used my rolling pin but you can also use a meat tenderizer. Keep rotating the pomegranate as you go.
The arils will start to fall in the bowl. Keep hitting until all the seeds are collected in the bowl. If a few seeds are still left, then take them out using fingers.
Deseed all the pomegranates in the same manner. Easy peasy, right?
You can deseed the arils and store them in a container and refrigerate them for up to 2 weeks. Use them to make fresh juice every day.
How To Make Pomegranate Juice
Transfer the pomegranate arils to the large jar of a high-speed blender.
Tip – Make sure there is no membrane attached to the seeds, otherwise the juice will become bitter in taste.
Pulse for 3-4 seconds until the arils are crushed but the hard seeds are intact.
Sieve the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Keep pressing with a silicone spatula to get the maximum juice and discard the leftover pulp.
Pour the juice into serving glasses. Add a few ice cubes and serve chilled.
Tip – This juice tastes best when made fresh but if you have leftovers, then store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Stir well before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can give it to babies, but only after they turn 6 months old. Also, give them freshly made juice with no added sweetener or artificial sweetener.
It is very necessary to consume a moderate amount of anything on a daily basis, and the same goes with pomegranate juice. Some may experience sensitivity such as itching, swelling, runny nose, and difficulty breathing if had this juice in excess, but having it in moderate quantity can have some amazing effects on your overall health.
Pro Tips By Neha
Make sure to not wash the seeds. If they come in contact with water, they get spoiled very soon.
You can mix the pomegranates with apples, oranges, or berries and make a new variation. You can also add in veggies like beetroot, tomato, etc to make it even more nutritious.
Sometimes pomegranate juice is very heavy to drink. In that case, mix it with some water, club soda, or seltzer.
You can add some lime juice, pink salt, or black salt to it for a delicious taste.
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Recipe Card
How To Make Pomegranate Juice
Ingredients
- 6 large pomegranates
Instructions
Peel The Pomegranates
- Wash the pomegranates and wipe them using a kitchen cloth.
- Now cut the pomegranate in half using a sharp knife.
- Keep a large bowl on the kitchen counter and hold one-half of the pomegranate over the bowl with the cut side down.
- Now start to hit the pomegranate using something heavy. I used my rolling pin but you can also use a meat tenderizer. Keep rotating the pomegranate as you go.
- The arils will start to fall in the bowl. Keep hitting until all the seeds are collected in the bowl. If a few seeds are still left, then take them out using fingers.
- Deseed all the pomegranates in the same manner. Easy peasy, right?
- You can deseed the arils and store them in a container and refrigerate them for up to 2 weeks. Use them to make fresh juice every day.
Make The Juice
- Transfer the pomegranate arils to the large jar of a high-speed blender.
- Make sure there is no membrane attached to the seeds, otherwise the juice will become bitter in taste.
- Pulse for 3-4 seconds until the arils are crushed but the hard seeds are intact.
- Sieve the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Keep pressing with a silicone spatula to get the maximum juice and discard the leftover pulp.
- Pour the juice into serving glasses. Add a few ice cubes and serve chilled.
- This juice tastes best when made fresh but if you have leftovers, then store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Stir well before serving.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!