Pomegranate Salad Recipe (2024)

By Tara Parker-Pope

Pomegranate Salad Recipe (1)

Total Time
Total cooking time: 15 min.
Rating
4(252)
Notes
Read community notes

This colorful salad of red pomegranate seeds, Romaine lettuce and roasted sesame seeds, dressed with a fresh pomegranate juice and honey dressing, sets a festive tone for any holiday table.

Sadhna Sheli, a reader from Los Angeles, sent us this recipe which is popular with both adults and kids. “Kids will like it because it has that sweet element to it,” said Ms. Sheli.

Featured in: Vegetarian Thanksgiving: Pomegranate Salad

Learn: How to Make Salad

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2tablespoons sesame seeds
  • ¼cup mild tasting olive oil
  • 2tablespoons pomegranate juice
  • 2tablespoons pomegranate molasses
  • 2tablespoons date syrup
  • 2tablespoons honey
  • Himalayan pink salt or sea salt to taste
  • Fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 9oz bag romaine or butter lettuce
  • ½cup pomegranate seeds

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

265 calories; 16 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 31 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 27 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 332 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Pomegranate Salad Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a small dry skillet toast sesame seeds over medium heat until light brown in color, about 3 to 5 minutes. Pour sesame seeds out onto a paper towel to cool.

  2. Step

    2

    Whisk together olive oil, pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses, date syrup, honey, salt and pepper. Set aside.

  3. Step

    3

    Arrange lettuce in large bowl or platter. Top with pomegranate seeds and sesame seeds, add dressing and toss. Serve immediately.

Ratings

4

out of 5

252

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Marian V.

I hesitate to say I made this. I did not have date syrup, sesame seeds or pomegranate juice. But I had a pomegranate I needed to use. My dressing was probably a little tarter than intended but I like my dressing that way. I would make this again.

self

Did it without date syrup because everyone was afraid it would be too sweet. All loved it, but agreed leaving date syrup out was a good decision.

Sue Llewellyn

No honey here; by choice rather than lack of availability, I figured date syrup would be sweet enough. For us the balance of tartness and sweetness was perfect--and the whole thing was so attractive!

Alex

I replaced the sesame seeds with sunflower seeds.

LaLaMaMa

I, too, was intimidated by the pomegranate molasses in this recipe. However, it turned out that Wegmans had it! If you have an ethnic grocery or otherwise well stocked market in your area, it’s worth seeking it out. I could see this pomegranate molasses being a very exciting ingredient in other sauces and dressings. For this salad, I made the dressing as written. It needs the sweetness to balance out the tartness of the pomegranate and the bitterness of the sesame seeds.

Debbie

I added 1 T of lime juice as I enjoy a tarter dressing. We have a pomegranate tree so I also used fresh juice. Ithe date syrup added a depth of flavor so I didn’t want to forgo it. I also added avacado and baby cucumbers for a creamy crunchier texture

Dinah

So funny. Someone below said: "I have pomegranate molasses but date syrup....?" Whereas I thought to myself after I found date syrup at Fairway: "Really? Pomegranate molasses? Where the heck do you get that?" Obscure ingredients might benefit from links to homemade recipes or links to stores that carry?

Leni

Pomegranate molasses are a speciality from Lebanon.

Sheila

I tripled the recipe and did not use the date syrup or the pomegranate molasses. I did find the seeds from one pomegranate made 6 T of juice. The toasted sesame seeds were superior. I will make this again.

Mead

A big hit here at my last dinner party — simple, easy to prep in advance, tasty, and looked great on the holiday table.

Maureen McHale

Very tasty. We have a lot pomegranates ripening on our tree. I tripled the recipe and did not use the date syrup or the pomegranate molasses. I did find the seeds from one pomegranate made 6 T of juice. The toasted sesame seeds were superior. I will make this again.

Kelly Cutrone

I did not use the date syrup - I did learn how to make date syrup - heat dates w/ water = date syrup. This was such an elegant and amazing salad

Carol

I live in a major city, purchase many relatively obscure ingredients and am a reasonably competent cook. I keep pomegranate molasses in my refrigerator. But DATE SYRUP???? Couldn't the NY TImes have offered an appropriate substitue???? I'm not buying it (assuming I can find it) for one recipe....

Alex

I made this for my family on Thanksgiving, and I decided to leave out the molasses, sea salt, pom juice, and date syrup, but it turned out really well!

Alex

I replaced the sesame seeds with sunflower seeds.

Carol Bream

Our dessert was an apple crumble (with kiwi and raspberries, too), served with vanilla ice cream. We used oatmeal instead of flour for the topping. Yum!!! Again, a great recipe from your site!

Carol Bream

We and our guests loved this. We served it as the salad course after roast chicken coated with a sauce of Dijon mustard, garlic, herbes de provence, black pepper, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The chicken was served with a roasted winter vegetables recipe from your wonderful collection!! Thank you so much!!!!

Roxanne

Does anyone think pepitas (pumpkin seeds) instead of sesame could work?

Shawn

Yes, I love pepitas in my salads and I have mixed them with pomegranate seeds. But to bring out their flavor, you have to roast them first in a hot, dry pan until they pop. Throw them on at the very end so they don't get soggy in the dressing.

Sue Llewellyn

No honey here; by choice rather than lack of availability, I figured date syrup would be sweet enough. For us the balance of tartness and sweetness was perfect--and the whole thing was so attractive!

self

Did it without date syrup because everyone was afraid it would be too sweet. All loved it, but agreed leaving date syrup out was a good decision.

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Pomegranate Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What pairs well with pomegranate? ›

Pomegranate: Pairs well with apple, cardamom, cinnamon, citrus, cucumber, ginger, mint, and tropical fruit. For pomegranate co*cktails, you'll find it works exceptionally well with port, tequila, vodka, and both red and white wines.

What are the benefits of pomegranate in salad? ›

  • Packed with nutrients. Overall, pomegranates are low in calories and fat but high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. ...
  • Rich in antioxidants. ...
  • May help keep inflammation at bay. ...
  • May have anticancer properties. ...
  • May offer heart health benefits. ...
  • Support urinary health. ...
  • May have antimicrobial properties. ...
  • May improve exercise endurance.

Can you just buy pomegranate seeds? ›

You can buy ready-to-eat seeds in the refrigerated area of many supermarket produce sections.

How long does pomegranate last? ›

How to store: Pomegranates should be refrigerated; they'll last at least three to four weeks. Once they've been seeded, the seeds also can be frozen in a tightly sealed bag.

What should not be eaten with pomegranate? ›

Possible Interactions
  1. ACE inhibitors. These types of drugs are used to control high blood pressure and to treat heart failure and prevent kidney damage in people with diabetes. ...
  2. Blood pressure medication. Pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure. ...
  3. Statin, medications used to lower cholesterols. ...
  4. Warfarin (Coumadin).

What makes pomegranate taste better? ›

1. Freshness: Pomegranate seeds from a whole fruit are typically fresher because they haven't undergone extended storage or processing, which can affect flavor. 2. Ripeness: When you select and open a ripe pomegranate, the seeds are likely to be at their peak of sweetness and juiciness, enhancing their taste.

Is it better to eat pomegranate in the morning or Evening? ›

It is a water-based fruit that also contains electrolytes. Hence pomegranate juice can hydrate your body first thing in the morning. Many of its nutrients get absorbed on an empty stomach. So, ideally, drinking pomegranate juice on an empty stomach is better than any other time of the day.

Is pomegranate the healthiest fruit in the world? ›

Pomegranates are often categorized as a “superfood” due to their high concentration of protective plant compounds such as ellagitannins, anthocyanins, and organic acids. These substances have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and help protect cells against oxidative damage.

Is pomegranate high in sugar? ›

1. Pomegranates. A pomegranate contains 38.6 g of sugar, so a preferable alternative is a half-cup serving of the pomegranate seeds, which contain 11.9 g. A 2020 review indicates that pomegranates may promote a beneficial effect on blood pressure and have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Do you swallow pomegranate seeds or spit them out? ›

Inside each aril is a small seed. It's OK to eat the arils as a whole or stick with the juice and spit out the seeds. But don't eat the rind and white areas, called membranes, around the arils. Half of a cup of arils has 72 calories, 16 grams of carbohydrates and three grams of fiber.

Do you chew and swallow pomegranate seeds? ›

They supply essential nutrients and antioxidants for multiple health benefits. Are You Supposed to Swallow Pomegranate Seeds? Yes, it's perfectly safe! Swallowing them after chewing properlylets you enjoy their full health benefits.

Are you supposed to bite pomegranate seeds? ›

It is safe to chew and swallow pomegranate seeds by adding them to meals or snacks. Some people prefer to consume them as part of drinks, such as by adding them to smoothies.

Should you refrigerate pomegranates? ›

Pomegranates should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, out of direct sunlight. Whole fruit can be refrigerated and will keep as long as 2 months. Fresh seeds or juice will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Pomegranate arils can be frozen for later use.

Why do my pomegranates smell like nail polish remover? ›

“Pomegranate seeds which start to go bad smell and taste like Nail polish remover because of the yeast eating up the sugar. I doubt they would add nail polish for color, that's not at all a cost-effective way to color large amounts of pomegranate,” an Instagram user explained.

Should we eat apple and pomegranate together? ›

Yes, you can eat pomegranate and apples together. Eating these two fruits together can provide a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants, vitamins C and K, and potassium. Apples are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

Is it OK to eat banana and pomegranate together? ›

Yes, you can eat banana and pomegranate together. They make a nutritious and tasty snack or breakfast. Both fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, so eating them together can provide a good nutrient boost.

What cheese goes well with pomegranate? ›

Try sprinkling pomegranate seeds over spreads of creamy goat cheese or ricotta, or look to match the fruit with mature blue cheese, soft Camembert, or melted brie.

Is pineapple and pomegranate a good combination? ›

The sweet and tangy combo of pineapple and pomegranate with a kick of ginger - truly a match made in juice heaven. But it's not just delicious. This juice packs a punch of health benefits, too!

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