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I always enjoyed pomegranate juice in the Middle East when it was in season. I never knew we had a similar drink in Morocco until I stumbled upon the recipe in a few books covering authentic Moroccan cooking. Since then, it has become a staple in my house.
Actually, making pomegranate juice is as easy as 1,2,3. And tradition being what it is, we Moroccans like to sneak in our beloved orange blossom or rose water wherever we can.
Of course, you need to get the seeds first. How to Seed a Pomegranate explains an easy way to do it.
You can use a blender, a mouli, or a juicer to make the juice. I tend to add water to mine while others add milk or nothing at all. So it’s up to you. Straining and seasoning the juice is the next step and voila!
Which pomegranate to use
I feel the need to highlight the fact that a variety of pomegranates can be unpleasantly seedy so juicing them may be your only way to enjoy them while in season. They are one of the healthiest foods known to men, from the flower to the skin, down to the ruby red or pink seed.
The other major thing to know is that some pomegranates are sweeter than others and the ruby-like ones tend to be extremely sour although more fragrant. I’ve come to think that mixing a variety of pomegranates or using the pale ones would eliminate the need for sugar or honey to balance their taste. In fact, the pomegranate tree at our Moroccan house renders such sweet fruit that we have to cut that sweetness with some lemon juice.
So enjoy this jeweled fruit while in season and feel free to adjust to taste of the pomegranate juice to your liking and according to the variety you have in hand.
For a refreshing dessert instead of juice, try Moroccan Style Pomegranate Seeds.
Moroccan Pomegranate Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb pomegranate seeds
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water, - or to taste
- 1 tbsp sugar or honey, - or to taste
- 1 cup water or orange juice - (optional)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice - optional; use if the fruit is very sweet)
Instructions
- In a food processor or a juicer, blend all the ingredients for a few seconds.
- Strain the juice and discard the seeds.
- Chill the juice then shake before serving.
Notes
- The pomegranate juice without orange keeps for up to 4 days in the fridge. The version with orange juice will keep for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate obtained from online calculators. Optional ingredients may not be included in the nutritional information.
About the Author
Nada Kiffa is Contributing Editor at Taste of Maroc. A native of Casablanca with strong Fassi roots, she writes about Moroccan and international cuisine at Ainek Mizanek.