Our 25 Best Pomegranate Recipes (2024)

Pomegranates have a bright, sweet-tart flavor that can be incorporated into all kinds of meals. We love putting the seeds in a salad of Persimmons, Pomegranate, and Purslane with Pepitas; the juice pairs well with cherries and chile for a spicy glaze to top Black Forest Mousse Cake. Not to mention, pomegranates also make for tasty co*cktails, smoothies, seafood dishes, vegetables, and more, so you can pretty much enjoy them any time of day. Read on for some of our favorite ways to use pomegranates.

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Pomegranate Salsa with Pistachios

This fresh pomegranate salsa combines charred onion and peppers, fresh herbs, and a tart sherry vinegar reduction in flavorful balance. With a nice crunch from the pomegranate arils and chopped pistachios, this salsa is equally suited for serving with chips or for spooning over chicken or fish.

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02of 25

Pomegranate-Jalapeño Glazed Ham

At Akasha in Los Angeles, chef Akasha Richmond prepares a sweet and spicy glaze for ham using housemade pomegranate-jalapeño jelly. As an easier alternative, this recipe calls for doctoring store-bought jalapeño jelly with pomegranate juice.

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03of 25

Charred Eggplant with Burrata and Pomegranate-Walnut Relish

This elegant salad is an emphatic nod to the celebratory eggplant dishes of Turkey. Velvety eggplant is paired with a tart-yet-earthy relish of toasted walnuts, cilantro, and pomegranate seeds. Toasting the walnuts brings out their full nutty, slightly bitter character, which plays well against the bright, juicy pomegranate seeds.

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04of 25

Escarole and Fresh Herb Salad with Apples and Pomegranates

Pomegranate seeds and apple bring sweetness to this refreshing green salad studded with parsley, chives, tarragon, and mint.

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05of 25

Seared Scallops with Pomegranate and Meyer Lemon

Fresh lemon, orange, and pomegranate juices paired with serrano chile bring heat and fresh, fruity flavor to sweet scallops. Quickly searing the scallops ensures each one has the perfect texture: a lightly crisp, golden brown exterior and a tender, nearly translucent center.

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06of 25

Serrano Ham and Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Salsa

This vibrant dish, layered with arugula, bright white slices of ricotta salata, and strips of salty Serrano ham, is the sort of composed salad that chef Suzanne Goin uses to showcase seasonal ingredients.

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07of 25

Pomegranate Margarita

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson loves a good margarita, especially when it's made with his Teremana tequila. This sweet-and-sour version has a tart kick from the pomegranate juice and a vibrant red color.

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Halloumi-and-Vegetable Skewers with Pomegranate-Tahini Sauce

Pomegranate molasses is the secret ingredient in this simple marinade. Its punchy, sweet, earthy notes add long-cooked depth of flavor to cheese and vegetable skewers in just 30 minutes of marination, with pleasantly bitter tahini rounding things out.

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09of 25

Black Forest Mousse Cake with Cherry-Chile-Pomegranate Glaze

In the hands of Renee Bolstad, former pastry chef at Joule in Seattle, black forest cake — traditionally chocolate cake layered with kirsch, cherries, and whipped cream — morphs into a modern layered mousse. To add texture and heat, Bolstad sandwiches it between a spicy pomegranate-chile glaze and crispy chocolate.

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10of 25

Cauliflower Salad with Yogurt Sauce and Pomegranate

Inspired by her mother's (much richer) fried eggplant salad, cookbook author Reem Kassis tops fried cauliflower with toasted nuts, pomegranate arils, and lemon-and-garlic-laced yogurt.

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11of 25

Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon with Oranges, Olives, and Herbs

Tart and just barely sweet, the pomegranate molasses cuts through the richness of the fish while creating a gorgeous, shimmering glaze; the olives balance the bright flavors of the salad with their soft salinity and luxe butteriness.

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12of 25

Apple-Pomegranate Cobbler

This juicy and bright cobbler — made from Granny Smith apples and pomegranate juice — is just the right amount of sweet, with an irresistibly tender and crunchy crust on top. Serve sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and topped with vanilla ice cream.

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13of 25

Sparkling Citrus-Pomegranate Sangria

A quick cinnamon-flavored simple syrup adds cozy notes to this tart sangria with fall flavors of pear, persimmon, and pomegranate. It's spiked with brandy and gets a lift from Lambrusco, a fizzy Italian red wine.

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14of 25

Tuna Scallopine with Parsley and Pomegranate Seeds

Lightly seared tuna steaks pair well with a light salad of parsley, pomegranate seeds, and fennel.

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15of 25

Persimmons, Pomegranate, and Purslane with Pepitas

Suzanne Goin, the chef at the famed Lucques in Los Angeles, marked 20 years of business in 2018 with a dinner that celebrated her now-classic blend of French cuisine and California produce. Goin refers to this salad as "The 4 Ps" and thinks of it as a persimmon salad with an arugula garnish, rather than the other way around.

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16of 25

Roasted Squash with Chestnuts and Pomegranate

A drizzle of tangy pomegranate molasses gives a punch of flavor to this oven-roasted squash.

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17of 25

Pomegranate-Banana Smoothie

Tart pomegranate juice and sweet bananas blend perfectly together in this quick and easy smoothie.

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18of 25

Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon with Armenian Rice

Cookbook author and entertaining designer Lulu Powers pairs this citrusy tart-sweet salmon with pilaf, a riff on a recipe she learned from her husband's Armenian family.

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19of 25

Bulgur-Pomegranate Salad

This is cookbook author Athena Calderone's twist on tabbouleh, the parsley-heavy Middle Eastern bulgur salad. She's added tangy, juicy pomegranate seeds, pleasantly bitter endive, and pistachios to dress it up. Be sure to let the bulgur cool — it'll make the grain nice and fluffy.

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20of 25

Lemon-Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce

A quick whirl in a food processor is all it takes to make this fresh-tasting sauce — no cooking required. For a savory upgrade, stir in finely ground toasted coriander.

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21of 25

Veggie Burgers with Pomegranate Ketchup

Eating vegan for a month led Top Chef winner Richard Blais to examine his pantry more closely. He discovered that ground porcini mushrooms add a meaty flavor to dishes like his veggie burger.

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22of 25

Chile-Sumac-Pomegranate Nuts

Cookbook author Nik Sharma notes that any mix of nuts will work for this crave-worthy recipe flavored with pomegranate molasses — just be sure to let them cool completely before serving or storing to ensure a crisp, not sticky, texture.

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23of 25

Grilled Quail with Spinach-Pomegranate Salad

Quail may seem intimidating to cook, but it's actually quite easy and fast. This recipe comes together in just 25 minutes.

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24of 25

Cava and Pomegranate co*cktails

Removing seeds from a pomegranate can seem tricky. "Don't worry, it is easy!" chef José Andrés says. His method: Cut the pomegranate in half across the middle, not through the stem; then wrap each half in cheesecloth and, holding it over a large bowl, hit it hard with a spoon or rolling pin. "Just hit it! Really hit it!" Andrés urges. Then open up the bundle and pick out the seeds, which should practically pop out.

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25of 25

Mtsvadi (Grilled Pork Skewers with Pomegranate and Onions)

These Georgian mtsvadi, or grilled meat skewers, are made from well-marbled pork shoulder tossed with raw onions and finished with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice.

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