Here we are at post #2 of Pomegranate Week 2010!!! When I was selected to be one of the POM Dinner Party Hosts, I was mailed a box of beautiful red pomegranates. I can’t even tell you the excitement that I felt as I opened the box!!!

For the party I had to start from scratch and seed the pomegranates and juice them for a couple of my recipes. Most people think that opening a pomegranate and removing the arils is hard. Actually is not that hard and a while back I finally figured out how to do it efficiently.

I like to use two bowl when I seed my pomegranates. I use one for the arils and the other one for the membrane and peel. I also like to use my small paring knife that is easy to maneuver because it’s light and is also very sharp. I also like to have another heavier knife handy.

The first thing I do is cut the top portion of the pomegranate with a paring knife. Don’t cut all the way through, just make an incision and go around.

Do the same thing to the bottom of the pomegranate.

With a heavier knife remove the top portion of the pomegranate. At this point you can also remove the bottom part.

With you pairing knife remove the albedo, the white flesh under the skin, from the center of the top of the pomegranate.

The pomegranate is naturally divided into sections by the membranes.

Score the pomegranate from top to bottom on each section using the membrane division as your guide.

After scoring the pomegranate vertically, now score it once horizontally right in the middle.

Place your thumbs in the heart center of the top portion of the pomegranate.

Gently wiggle the pomegranate open.

Peel back and remove the membrane on section and divide into smaller pieces.

Peel back and remove the outer skin.

With you thumbs gently remove the arils and drop them into your second bowl. Try to be as gentle as possible so that the seeds don’t bursts.

Some choose to use a bowl of water during this process, but I prefer not to because I think water take away a bit of the taste. You’ll surprised that it’s not that hard to keep the white stuff out of the bowl.

Now I have something new to share with you guys. I decided to also make a video of me peeling one of the many pomegranates that I seeded for the party. My old white sweatshirt became my uniform for the pomegranate massacre. My mom and the Sous Chef teased me to no end because I had pomegranate juice all over me, my hands, wrists, face, sweatshirt, counter, and wall!!

Anyway, here is the first every video of yours truly.

Pomegranate Week 2010 Posts

POM Wonderful Dinner Party ~ Persian Ruby

Pomegranate Week 2009 Posts



Persians’ Love Affair with Pomegranate

Pomegranate Juice

Khoresht Fesenjan ~ Persian Pomegranate & Walnut Stew