While researching this post, I noticed that pomegranates have a very long history and have often appeared in art, literature and mythology. I came across Proserpine, painted by the pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1874. I’d seen the painting before but had forgotten that the Roman goddess is holding a pomegranate. According to myth, she was kidnapped by Pluto, the god of the underworld and could only return to earth if she had not consumed any underworld food! Unfortunately, she had eaten six seeds from the pomegranate and was therefore condemned to spend six months of the year in Hades. Thus, the pomegranate in the Rossetti’s painting is a symbol of captivity.
This was a happy coincidence, for Rossetti’s Proserpineis in Tate Britain, which we visited yesterday afternoon, as part of NYE outing, to see the brilliant Edward Burne-Jones (another pre-Raphaelite) exhibition. So, we sought out that famous pomegranate in the 19thcentury galleries.
The pomegranate fruit should be a symbol of health, rather than captivity, because the hundreds of tiny seeds (known of arils) that it contains are packed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory phytochemicals called punicalagins. They also contain a conjugated linolenic acid (CLAs) called punicic acid. Research on cells, lab animals and humans suggest that the punicalagins may help prevent or manage a whole range of health problems, including cancer, arthritis, joint pain heart disease, high blood pressure, while CLAs have been shown to help with obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance.
You can buy a whole pomegranate for about a pound at the greengrocer – much cheaper than the pre-packaged seeds. Releasing the seeds can be messy though – I score the fruit around the centre and twisted it into two halves and then just break the seeds out from the clumps inside into a bowl, and then pick out the bits of pith. Then there’s 100% pomegranate juice which is more expensive than other fruit juices, but is great to add to plain water with a slice of lemon as a healthy hydrating drink or to top up a home-made juice.
Winter pomegranate juice
This combines pomegranate with cranberries, another winter fruit. Two pomegranates provide about 100ml of juice. The spinach adds a touch of green, without detracting from the delicious taste of this juice.
One serving
One box of cranberries
Two pomegranates, seeded
Eight oranges, peeled
100g spinach
One inch piece of root ginger, peeled
Juice all ingredients and drink immediately.
Super pomegranate salad
This combines elements from various Greek and Turkish restaurants I’ve visited over the last few months. I haven’t put precise quantities, so just make up a big bowl in whatever proportions you want.
Four servings
Green leaves (rocket, watercress, baby kale, baby spinach, lamb’s lettuce or a mixture)
Olives (a pot of something interesting from the deli, maybe with sundried tomatoes, artichokes, manchego or more feta.
Cubed feta
Seeds
Walnut halves
Avocado, peeled and chopped
Pomegranate seeds
Mix all the ingredients and dress with flax seed oil, cider vinegar and lemon.
Pomegranate fruit salad
Some seasonal citrus, tropical mango and a generous dressing of pomegranate seeds make a delicious healthy fruit salad to start the day or end a meal with.
Four servings
Four to six oranges/satsumas/clementines, peeled and segmented
Two mangoes, peeled and cubed
100g pomegranate seeds
Mint leaves, chopped, to decorate
Cinnamon, to sprinkle
Mix the oranges/citrus fruit with the mango. Scatter with the pomegranate seeds, decorate with the mint leaves and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Next time. P is for Peanut Butter