Summer is round the corner and with it the need to look for recipes that are healthy, pleasing to the eye and, of course, tasty! I love pomegranates that entice with their luminous ruby colour and then seduce with a taste that is dripping with bitter-sweet crunchiness. Below are some recipes that I came across recently and tried. Many of us get put off if the recipe is difficult and ingredients unavailable. But these recipes are simple to make and the ingredients can be easily sourced. Enjoy!
Pomegranate and jam sorbet
Ingredients
150g plum jam
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tub raspberry sorbet (500ml)
75 gm pomegranate seeds
Peppercorns
Method: Heat the jam in a saucepan with the lemon juice and then sieve and leave to cool. Place a scoop of sorbet in a glass, drizzle a teaspoon of the heated jam and pomegranate seeds. Dust with a pinch of finely pressed peppercorns. The peppercorns add a subtle peppery tang that contrasts with the sweetish tart taste of the other ingredients.
Beetroot and pomegranate soup
Ingredients
40 gm butter
1 large onion
800 gm beetroot
1 pear
Sea salt
Black pepper
1.2 litres chicken stock
22 ml pomegranate juice
Grated nutmeg
Fresh cream
Chopped parsley
Pomegranate seeds
Method: Melt butter and fry onions until soft. Add beetroot and stir for five minutes. Add pear, chicken stock and seasoning and simmer for 30 minutes. Liquidise soup with pomegranate juice and nutmeg. Serve with a dollop of fresh cream. Add parsley and pomegranate seeds to decorate.
I actually let this soup cool because of the change in weather and then served it. Avoid cream for a low fat version! It was quite a hit, so try both hot and cold versions and see which one you prefer.
Pomegranate, apple and walnut salad
Ingredients
Rocket leaves
Radicchio
Mustard greens
Pomegranate seeds
2 apples sliced
3 tbsp roasted and pared down walnuts
For dressing
3 tbsp Olive oil
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp Honey
Salt and pepper
Method: Toss all ingredients together. Add dressing when you are ready to serve. This salad has many subtle flavours that blend well together. Radicchio has a slightly bitter taste, which goes well with the sweet crunchiness of apple and pomegranate and the earthiness of the roasted walnuts. The honey gives the dressing an extra kick!
