In Episode #53, co-hosts Beata and Bita talk about many facets of how pomegranates are an important part of Persian culture from unique dishes to literature and art. Tartly sweet and delicious, pomegranates are beautiful and delicious in many forms.
Fresh Pomegranates
How to Deseed a pomegranate
- Traditional method - cut/score the tough outer skin or peel, divide into the natural segments and pick out the fruit around the tiny seeds called arils
- De-seed with the underwater method (see video link in show notes)
- Purchase pre-packed and de-seeded - note, shorter shelf life
Other forms of pomegranate used in Persian cuisine
- Pomegranate molasses - more sweet
- Pomegranate paste - more sour
Dishes using pomegranate molasses and/or paste
- Fesenjan/Fessenjoon | Chicken Walnut and Pomegranate stew
- Asheh Anar | Pomegranate Soup
- Regional dishes (such as those touched on by Omid, The Caspian Chef)
Modern takes on using Pomegranate
- As a garnish to fesenjan/fessenjoon | Persian chicken walnut Pom stew, as a garnish to jeweled rice and shirin polo
- Arils sprinkled on oatmeal, yogurt cereal, saladsl
- Molasses turned into a sauce for chicken wings and meatballs
- Molasses drizzled over desserts, yogurts, and breakfasts
- Whole, fresh pomegranates as a natural table decor, added to table settings and sofrehs for fall holidays such as American Thanksgiving, and Persian Mehregan and Shabeh Yalda
Ask the Beats
Kat from Simple Good Foods asks,
“I love my Instant Pot, do you have one and do you use it for Persian cooking?”
Yes, great for cooking meats, as well as for cooking Persian soups and stews. Also helpful as a time saving tool when batch cooking and meal prepping.
- Hard boiled eggs
- Potatoes
- Beans from scratch
- Meats
Contact us at hello@modernpersianfood.com or Instagram
Resources and recipes from this episode:
All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at: Episodes
Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!
Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes
Video: How to De-Seed a Pomegranate Underwater
Recipes:
Walnut and Pomegranate Stew – Khoreshteh Fessenjoon
Khoresh Fesenjan | Persian Pomegranate Chicken
Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Wings
Episodes referenced:
Episode 16: Khoresh Fesenjoon | Persian Pomegranate and Walnut Stew
Episode 31: Cultural Spotlight: Caspian Sea Regional Foods with Special Guest The Caspian Chef
Podcast Production by Alvarez Audio