A Recipe For Pomegranate Molasses And What to Make with It - California Grown (2024)

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Pomegranate molasses is a thick, syrupy reduction made from pomegranate juice. It is a versatile ingredient that adds a unique sweet and tangy flavor to all types of dishes. Its vibrant color and rich taste make it a favorite in both sweet and savory recipes. From marinades and dressings to desserts and drinks, you’ll always want to keep this ingredient on hand.

A Recipe For Pomegranate Molasses And What to Make with It - California Grown (1)

California Pomegranates: The Crown Jewel of the Golden State

The Central Valley is the agricultural powerhouse of California and the heart of pomegranate country. It’s where the majority of the nation’s pomegranates are cultivated​​. The region’s climate and soil conditions are ideal for growing these vibrant fruits, making California a leading producer of pomegranates.

Short and Sweet Seasonal Splendor

Pomegranate season in California is relatively brief but bountiful, typically spanning from September to December​​. During this period, fresh pomegranates and their arils (the juicy, ruby-red seeds) are widely available, while pomegranate juice remains a staple that is available year-round.

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How to Make Pomegranate Molasses at Home

Making pomegranate molasses is simpler than you might think. All you need is pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice. Simmering these ingredients together creates a thick, flavorful syrup that you’ll be using in your recipes again and again. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Gather fresh pomegranate juice, sugar, and a bit of lemon juice.
  2. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until the mixture reduces to a syrupy consistency.
  3. Let the molasses cool, then transfer to a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Now it’s ready to use or store.
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A Recipe For Pomegranate Molasses And What to Make with It - California Grown (4)
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What to Make with Pomegranate Molasses

  1. Savory Dishes with Pomegranate Molasses: Pomegranate molasses can elevate numerous savory dishes. It works wonderfully as a marinade for meats, adds a tangy twist to salad dressings, and can be used as a glaze for roasted vegetables.
  2. Sweet Treats with Pomegranate Molasses: In sweet dishes, pomegranate molasses adds depth and a hint of tartness. It’s excellent in fruit salads, drizzled over desserts like cheesecake or ice cream, and can be incorporated into baked goods for an unexpected flavor twist.
  3. Refreshing Beverages with Pomegranate Molasses: Add a splash of pomegranate molasses to your co*cktails or mocktails for a unique, tangy flavor. It pairs exceptionally well with sparkling water for a refreshing mocktail too.
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Understanding California Pomegranates

Exploring the Pomegranate’s Hidden Treasures: A Deep Dive into Its Anatomy

Pomegranates have a hard outer shell with many arils inside. These arils contain both the seed and the juice, and it’s this juicy part that is most commonly used in cooking and juice production​​.

Versatility in the Kitchen

Pomegranates are incredibly versatile. They can be used whole, juiced, or turned into molasses. Pomegranates can be used many ways, from adding a fresh twist to tacos, enhancing co*cktails, or as a key ingredient in delicious desserts​​.

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We’d love to hear how you use pomegranate molasses in your kitchen. Share your favorite recipes and ideas with us by snapping a picture and tagging us on social media using #CAGROWN. For more inspiration, follow us on Pinterest for a treasure trove of California-grown recipes!

Craving more CA Grown goodness? Follow us on Pinterest for fresh and fabulous recipe inspiration!

Pomegranate Molasses

James Collier

Pomegranate molasses, is a thick, syrupy reduction made from pomegranate juice. It is a versatile ingredient that adds a unique sweet and tangy flavor to all types of dishes.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course co*cktails, Dessert, Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 0.5 cups

Calories 929 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • In a large, wide, uncovered saucepan, heat pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice on medium-high until the sugar has dissolved and the juice simmers.

    Reduce heat just enough to maintain a simmer.

  • Simmer for about an hour, or until the juice has a syrupy consistency, and has reduced to 1/2 cup.

    If you want your pomegranate molasses to be sweeter, add more sugar to taste, while you are cooking it.

  • Pour out into a jar. Let cool. Store chilled in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 929kcalCarbohydrates: 232gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 91mgPotassium: 2164mgFiber: 1gSugar: 226gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 112mgIron: 1mg

Keyword pomegranate, pomegranate juice, pomegranate molasses

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Pomegranate Molasses Roasted Duck

With every bite of Vy Tran of Beyond Sweet & Savory’s pomegranate-glazed roasted duck, you get succulent, tender, and flavorful meat that will make you want to reach for more.

A Recipe For Pomegranate Molasses And What to Make with It - California Grown (2024)

FAQs

What can I use pomegranate molasses for? ›

7 Ways to Use Pomegranate Molasses
  1. Salad dressings. I love to add pomegranate molasses to salads for a lovely tart sweetness. ...
  2. As a marinade. I love pomegranate molasses as a marinade for chicken, and you can also use it with fish, beef, duck or as a glaze for pork.
  3. To flavour grains. ...
  4. Dips. ...
  5. Roasted vegetables. ...
  6. Desserts. ...
  7. Drink.
Jul 7, 2020

Should pomegranate molasses be refrigerated? ›

For proper storage that allows the molasses to last up to a year, transfer the cooled molasses to a glass bottle or container and never allow anything non-sterile to come in contact with it. So, to use, pour it out of the jar or bottle rather than putting in a spoon, and always keep refrigerated.

What do Middle Easterns use pomegranate molasses for? ›

Pomegranate molasses is used in Middle Eastern, African and Mediterranean cooking, usually to add a sweet and sour note to dishes. It is a syrup made by boiling and reducing pomegranate juice. It is easy to make or buy from Middle Eastern stores and some supermarkets.

Is pomegranate molasses healthy or not? ›

In fact, pomegranate molasses is a particularly highly nutritious product since it is made by boiling down fresh pomegranate juice into a thickened syrup, and would therefore, depending on processing conditions, have higher mineral and antioxidant contents than fresh pomegranate juice (Yilmaz et al., 2007).

How long does pomegranate molasses last once opened? ›

Pomegranate molasses can be stored in a cool dark place and consumed within 12 months of opening.

Is pomegranate molasses good for diabetes? ›

Similarly, homemade pomegranate molasses samples exhibited higher anti-diabetic activity using α-amylase and α- glucosidase inhibitory assays, noting that homemade samples were very close in activity to the reference standard acarbose; only 1.5 to 5 times (∼2.8 times) less potent than acarbose in activity against α- ...

Does pomegranate molasses tenderize meat? ›

The pomegranate molasses is both sweet and sour, and the acid in it will tenderize the meat. When ready to cook, take the meat out of the fridge, and season it with salt and black pepper.

Is pomegranate molasses sweet or sour? ›

It's a common ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking and can also sometimes be called pomegranate syrup. Despite it having “molasses” in its name, it's more sour than sweet. Pomegranate molasses is tart and tangy, with an underlying caramelized sweetness and almost musky depth.

What is another name for pomegranate molasses? ›

Pomegranate molasses and pomegranate syrup are two different names for the same thing and are used interchangeably.

Is pomegranate molasses the same as balsamic vinegar? ›

Pomegranate Molasses Dressing tastes like a more exotic and thicker version of Balsamic vinaigrette! Hailing from the Middle East, it's made with pomegranate molasses which is like balsamic syrup – thick, syrupy, sweet and tangy.

What was molasses used for in the old days? ›

Sugar cane molasses is an ingredient used in baking and cooking. It was popular in the Americas before the 20th century, when it was plentiful and commonly used as a sweetener in foods and an ingredient in brewing beer in the colonies.

Is pomegranate molasses inflammatory? ›

Studies have shown that pomegranate extract, derived from pomegranate juice concentrate, may have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects and may promote wound healing and skin health [28,29].

Why does molasses have a warning? ›

Blackstrap molasses has a lead warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because the processing of molasses infrequently involves using a direct flame with coals that may contain a high amount of the caustic substance potash. The soil in which the sugar cane grows may also contain lead.

Is pomegranate molasses good for weight loss? ›

Pomegranate juice and molasses led to significant decreases in the weights (only 3% (PJ) and 1% (PM) weight accumulation, respectively instead of 20% for the control group after 8 weeks) also in the triglyceride and lipid peroxidase tissue levels in the heart, liver and lungs of the mice in the active intervention ...

What does pomegranate molasses taste like? ›

Pomegranate molasses is tart and tangy, with an underlying caramelized sweetness and almost musky depth. It's an ingredient that's totally unique. If you've sipped pomegranate juice or popped a handful of ruby pomegranate seeds into your mouth, then you're familiar with the fruit's sweet-tart pop of flavor.

What is the difference between pomegranate molasses and regular molasses? ›

While its color is similar to molasses made of sugar cane or sugar beets, pomegranate molasses is not a sweetener but a condiment, and as such added to dishes in small amounts. Pomegranate molasses is an important ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking.

What should pomegranate molasses taste like? ›

Pomegranate molasses is syrupy and rich, but even versions with added sugar are not very sweet. Instead it's tangy and a little musky with a depth of flavor that I usually associate with wine or concentrated meat drippings. This makes it invaluable anywhere you want to add a little depth or complexity.

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