Pomegranates are a vibrant, round red fruit packed with juicy seeds called arils, nestled in gel sacs that burst with a delicious sweet-tart flavor. While the thick skin and bitter flesh aren’t edible, pomegranate arils offer a unique combination of crunch and juiciness that fits beautifully in a variety of pomegranate recipes – from salads and main dishes to refreshing drinks and indulgent desserts.
Health Benefits of Pomegranates for Weight Loss and Wellness
Including pomegranate arils and pomegranate juice in your diet provides numerous health benefits, especially if you’re focused on weight loss or just aiming to eat healthier. Pomegranates are low in calories and fat yet high in fiber and vitamin C.
They also contain compounds called ellagitannins, which are powerful nutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation, support heart health, improve digestion, and even slow signs of aging, according to a report from UCLA Health.
When is Pomegranate Season?
Peak season for pomegranates runs from late fall through early winter, making them an ideal ingredient for holiday recipes. Their brilliant red color, juicy texture and naturally sweet flavor complement seasonal dishes and bring a special touch to your holiday meals. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, pomegranates are the perfect addition to any festive spread.
Delicious and Healthy Pomegranate Recipes to Try
Ready to add the power of pomegranates to your menu? Here are some must-try pomegranate recipes that highlight this superfruit’s flavor and health benefits, perfect for the holiday season and beyond!
1. Fall Sangria Mocktail
This refreshing, alcohol-free twist on traditional sangria is a seasonal treat featuring the flavors of autumn, helping you avoid empty calories. Simply blend fresh apple cider and fizzy lemon seltzer, then add slices of apples and oranges, plus cinnamon sticks for a hint of spice. Pomegranate seeds are the finishing touch, providing extra flavor and color in every glass.
Get the Fall Sangria Mocktail recipe.
2. Stuffed Acorn Squash
Acorn squash is a standard side dish for many holiday dinners. When roasted, its flesh becomes creamy and lightly sweet. We like to fill the squash halves with a sweet and savory blend of walnuts, pomegranate arils, coriander seeds and high-protein quinoa. Make extra because you can enjoy the leftovers as part of a healthy, filling lunch the next day.
Get the Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
3. Pomegranate Chicken Salad Wraps
Check out this tasty and satisfying alternative to everyday chicken salad. The chunks of white meat are tossed with chopped apples, celery, red onions and juicy pomegranate seeds. The dressing features tangy, protein-rich Greek yogurt in place of high-fat mayonnaise. Scoop the chicken salad into lettuce leaves for a handy, low-calorie lunch.
Get the Pomegranate Chicken Salad Wraps recipe.
4. Baked Cinnamon Apple Nachos
Fresh-picked apples are abundant in fall, and they’re the sweet foundation to this sweet take on nachos. Seasoned with zingy cinnamon, the apple slices are baked until tender and juicy. Top them with a drizzle of your favorite nut butter, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, mini chocolate chips and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds for a jolt of juicy sweetness. Serve these nachos to your family or place a plate on the workplace potluck table.
Get the Baked Cinnamon Apple Nachos recipe.
5. Pomegranate Arugula Salad
The peppery taste of arugula is complemented by the sweet flavor of pears and crunchy pomegranate seeds in this simple, colorful salad. Finish it with a homemade vinaigrette, featuring white balsamic vinegar, pomegranate juice, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard and maple syrup. You can enjoy this salad any day of the week, but it looks tempting enough to bring to any neighborhood gathering or family get-together.
Get the Pomegranate Arugula Salad recipe.
6. Sparkling Christmas Punch Mocktail
You and your guests can enjoy a festive beverage that’s alcohol-free yet loaded with flavor. Cranberry juice and orange juice are the base, with orange slices, fresh cranberries and pomegranate seeds added for taste and texture. Mix in gingerade kombucha, a fermented drink found in many supermarkets today, for a snap of spice and a tingle of fizz.
Get the Sparkling Christmas Punch Mocktail recipe.
7. Pomegranate Lentil Caviar
Serve your guests an elegant appetizer that’s bursting with flavor but won’t bust your budget. This fun alternative is made with tender lentils rather than expensive sturgeon roe. The mild-tasting legumes are combined with pomegranate seeds, red onion, parsley and sunflower seeds for a medley of flavors and textures.
The mixture is dressed with a blend that includes olive oil, pomegranate juice, lemon, coriander and cumin. A topping of goat cheese makes it all creamy.
Get the Pomegranate Lentil Caviar recipe.
8. Crispy Salmon with Pomegranate Salsa
High-protein salmon is transformed into a hearty, holiday meal. Start by broiling the salmon in the oven until the top is crispy and the flesh is tender and flaky. It’s finished with a chunky salsa prepared with jicama, diced red onion, jalapenos, pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds.
Get the Crispy Salmon with Pomegranate Salsa recipe.
9. Butternut Squash Pomegranate Couscous Salad
Whip up this couscous salad that includes two of our favorite seasonal ingredients: sautéed butternut squash and juicy pomegranate arils. Onions, sliced almonds, lime juice and black pepper complete the dish that can be served warm or chilled. It’s the perfect holiday a side dish or as the foundation for a filling lunch.
Get the Butternut Squash Pomegranate Couscous Salad recipe.
10. Cacao Citrus Salad
This quick and easy salad will load you up with powerful, immune-boosting vitamin C. It starts with juicy slices of grapefruit and oranges arranged on a plate. They’re topped with a sprinkling of cacao nibs, chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds. Drizzle the salad with a blend of maple syrup, vanilla extract and cinnamon for an elevated and colorful side dish. Garnish with fresh mint leaves for more flavor and color.
Get the Cacao Citrus Salad recipe.
11. Chocolate Chia Seed Protein Pudding
Spoon up creamy, chocolaty pudding and stay on track with your weight loss. To make this protein-packed treat, combine Chocolate Nutrisystem Shake Mix with skim or soy milk, then blend in chia seeds to create the pudding texture. Layer the blend into a mason jar, top with pomegranate seeds and let it all set overnight in the refrigerator. It’s easy to bring along wherever your day takes you.
Get the Chocolate Chia Seed Protein Pudding recipe.
12. Sparkling Pomegranate Holiday Punch
At your next party, try this simple but sophisticated mocktail. The colorful punch is made with ruby-red pomegranate juice and bubbly seltzer water. It’s served over ice with a twist of lemon for a garnish.
Get the Sparkling Pomegranate Holiday Punch recipe.
13. Orange Pomegranate Glazed Salmon with Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Whether you’re preparing a family feast or an intimate gathering, this complete meal will impress. The tender salmon filets are glazed with an easy-to-make sauce featuring orange juice, slices and zest, plus honey, garlic, rosemary and pomegranate seeds.
On the side are two hearty fall favorites, tender roasted potatoes and savory roasted Brussels sprouts. They’re all finished cooking at the same time, so you can just serve and sit down to enjoy eating yourself.
Get the Orange Pomegranate Glazed Salmon recipe.
14. Roasted Delicata Squash Fall Salad
Delicata squash is like the fall version if summer squash. It has an oblong shape, pale yellow skin with green or orange stripes, and orange-colored flesh. Like summer squash, it has a thin rind that you can eat when it’s cooked. But it is harvested in fall, like other types of winter squash, and it has firm flesh.
Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetable, which we love to pair with onions for a little zesty taste. After they’re cooked, they’re topped with juicy fresh pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta cheese, chopped walnuts and fresh parsley to make a flavorful side dish for special occasions.
Get the Roasted Delicata Squash Fall Salad recipe.
15. Red Pepper Walnut Dip
Dipping makes eating fun no matter how old you are! This blend is perfect for your healthy diet because packed with flavor and healthy fats. To make it, simply whip together roasted red bell peppers, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, minced garlic and red pepper flakes, along with walnuts and whole wheat breadcrumbs. Top with crunchy pomegranate seeds and serve with carrot, celery and cucumber sticks.
Get the Red Pepper Walnut Dip recipe.
16. Pomegranate Ginger Kombucha
Treat your tastebuds (and your gut) to a refreshing drink that’s packed with flavor and probiotics. Gingerade kombucha is a fermented tea with a zingy taste and a little natural fizz that you can find bottled in grocery stores. Mix it with pomegranate juice and then pour it over ice. Garnish each flavor-packed glass with a few pomegranate seeds and fresh mint leaves.
Get the Pomegranate Ginger Kombucha recipe.
17. Almond Butter Stuffed Dates
When a craving for something sweet strikes you, reach for one of these super-nutritious and very satisfying bites. They’re made with medjool dates, a naturally sweet and juicy fruit with a hint of caramel flavor. Cut small slits in their skins to remove the little pits and then spoon in almond butter. Top each one with your favorite flavors, such as almonds, shredded coconut, chocolate chips or, of course, pomegranate seeds. Store the extras in a sealed container in your fridge to snack on when you’re feeling that “candy bar” temptation.
Get the Almond Butter Stuffed Dates recipe.
18. Fall Spinach Salad with Apple Vinaigrette
The autumn harvest brings us an abundance of so many favorite vegetables and fruits, including spinach, radishes and apples. We combine them in a salad along with creamy goat cheese and crunchy, juicy pomegranate seeds. The dressing is made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey, tying all of the ingredients together beautifully.
Get the Fall Spinach Salad recipe.
19. Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse
Bring this elegant chocolate dessert to your holiday get-togethers and it will be the talk of the party. It’s easy to make with just a few simple ingredients like coconut oil, chocolate chips and cocoa powder. It takes just minutes to whip up, no kitchen skills needed!
Chill it in the fridge for an hour before serving , then garnish each bowl with a few juicy pomegranate seeds. No one but you needs to know it is made with healthy ingredients!
Get the Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse recipe.
20. 28-Calorie Easy Holiday Fruit Cups
Here’s a simple, healthy dessert that your whole family will love! Whip up your flavor of choice of sugar-free gelatin (we like strawberry) and we pour it over fresh strawberries and pomegranate seeds for more natural sweetness. After the gelatin solidifies, top each cup with light whipped topping and a little more fruit for a garnish. Be prepared for requests for seconds!
Get the Holiday Fruit Cups recipe.
21. Pom-Cheesy Cucumber Bites
Healthy snack time doesn’t have to be complicated. These bites are so easy to prepare you can make them in minutes whenever hunger strikes between meals. And they look so appetizing, you can serve them to guests!
Simply slice cucumbers into bite-size coins and spread a bit of goat cheese on each of them. Sprinkle on a little dried oregano and finish them with a couple of pomegranate seeds for color and crunch.
Get the Pom-Cheesy Cucumber Bites recipe.
