Pomegranate Honey

The mushroom lady recharged my kitchen life. Neither of us had any idea at the time. I was eavesdropping, she was sharing a recipe, I asked a question, and, well, my kitchen life has been recharged.

The recipe is an old remedy for a sore throat or cough soother but I've used it for anything but. "Put pomegranate seeds and some skin into honey. Leave it on the counter for a few weeks and put it in the refrigerator," the mushroom lady said. "It will last a year."

We looked at her disbelieving. "Put a spoonful into hot water," she continued. "Drink it. You'll feel better." At this she held her throat. Smiled. "Feel better."

I left with a beet red pomegranate.

At home I separated seeds into a jar, hesitantly added bits of skin and poured honey over it. A few days later the honey was a thick liquid; not exactly honey like. The seeds were red as ever though. I tasted a few. And then a few more. And a few more after that. You get the idea.

My jar of pomegranate seeds and honey was gone in a week and a half.

Out of necessity I added the mixture, minus the skins, to kale salad as it was the only honey in the house. The kale and pomegranate seeds, earthy and sweet tastes, they were meant to be together. The red seeds were sparklers against the dark green kale.

Then I baked apples and needed a thimble of juice in the cored out center of them. Adding dried figs first I spooned the pomegranate and honey into the apples. I topped each with a teaspoon of plain honey. Another success.

I also pour the honey and seeds onto plain yogurt. I love the crunch of the seeds, the thread of juice from the fruit. I love the color, the simplicity. I love that the mushroom lady passed the recipe along.

I'm making more tomorrow. A lot more. My kitchen life would be so dull through the winter without it.

23 comments:

Tamara said...

OK, I'm headed to the farmer's market to buy a pomegranate...thank you! XO

Green Bean said...

Interesting!! Now, the skin and not the pulp, right? I'll have to try this myself.

Melinda said...

YUM - that sounds amazing. I love easy, yummy foods. It's becoming my specialty lately. Thanks!

Kelly said...

ooohhh. luxurious. kale and pomegranate seeds...must try. i use pomegranate molassess which must be a little like this...

Kale for Sale said...

Tamara - I hope you bought a few!

Green Bean - I'm making two batches -- one with skin and seeds, no pulp, for the winter sore throat/cough remedy and another batch with no skin, only seeds and honey, to put on every thing I eat. It seemed like the seeds got softer as the week went on.

Melinda - Easy is Queen. Although it did take a bit of time to separate all the seeds.

Kelly - I bet it is like pomegranate molasses - with some crunch.

Donna said...

I've got to try this! But how do you separate the seeds from the pulp? (The pulp is the red juicy part that sticks to the seeds, right?)

Kale for Sale said...

Donna - I was thinking of the pulp being the white skin inside the fruit that separates the clusters of seeds. But now that I think of it, you're right. The pulp would be the red juicy part on the seeds. Keep that part!

kathryn said...

Lovely, lovely idea Katrina. I've never heard of pomegranate honey, or it's medicinal qualities. Although it sound like even if the pomegranate honey doesn't work medicinally, it's still a beautiful thing to have in the house.

Anonymous said...

Interesting is right!! I have some leftover seeds sitting in my fridge right now...I love the idea of eating it over yogurt.

Colleen

Kale for Sale said...

Kathryn - Exactly. A beautiful thing to have in the house. Always appreciated.

doughgirl/aka Colleen - Leftover pomegranate seeds will be a thing of the past I bet. I hope you enjoy the actual eating them on yogurt as much as the idea of it.

M said...

Sounds amazingly delicious and easy. I love when the key ingredient is time. I'll have to try with yogurt...

Kale for Sale said...

Audrey - Yes, the time. I keep thinking it takes no time at all but I've yet to make the next batch. Tomorrow I promise, tomorrow. I trust you and the new little farmer are doing well. It's good to hear from you.

Arwen from Hoglet K said...

That sounds wonderful! Colourful and sweet.

Lucy said...

Katrina...what can I say?

Thank you, and will you please thank your mushroom lady from me, all the way down here? Brilliant! Addictive! Medicinal!! And rather pretty, too.

Anh said...

This is new to me! Thanks for the post now I'm buying some pom fast!

Kale for Sale said...

Lucy - This must be perfect for your time of year right now. I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Sharing these things is quite as satisfying as the food itself. I will thank the mushroom lady again.

Anh - Buy two! You'll want them. Thanks for the comment and enjoy.

Tea said...

This sounds so intriguing! I must give it a try, the next time I get my hands on a pomegranate.

Waving from Seattle down to you!

--T

April said...

Wow! I cannot wait to try this recipe/remedy. My family loves honey. We buy local honey by the gallons.

I have always used it plain, but will absolutely have to try it with the pom.

I wonder if you could add other fruits, such as lemon peal to honey?! What would the mushroom lady say to that?

I often add honey to my sick loved ones mint tea, so this will just kick it up a notch. Thank you for posting!

Kale for Sale said...

Tea - Waving back and cheering you on with your new book! You are on my to be read list.

April - The good news is I haven't had to try this as a remedy but there's a jar of it in the fridge.

I haven't tried other fruits in honey but some years ago the Herbwives' Kitchen, posted about putting herbs in the honey. I used mint leaves, which crystallized. I put the honey with the mint over yogurt too. And swoon. Enjoy.

nicole said...

What kind of honey do you use? Please don't say Plain honey, I have ten kinds of honey in the house right now so that won't help me ;-)
Can it be creamy Summer-blossom honey or should it be something like clear Acacia honey or clear Wildflowerhoney?

Kale for Sale said...

Nicole - Use which ever of the honey's is your favorite or maybe your least favorite to punch it up. The mushroom lady said nothing about what kind of honey to use. I used orange blossom because that's what I had in the house. And it's my favorite. Enjoy!

nicole said...

Thank you! I bought some cheap organic clear honey and a pomegranate today, it's already sitting on my counter, all mixed and looking beautiful. I didn't add much skin, just three small pieces. I wasn't sure what it's been treated with... I'm really looking forward to trying it in a few days when I stir it.
It's funny, you used orange blossom, I nearly bought orange blossom honey today, but it was nearly 5 euro for 500g so I choose the organic summer blossom honey for 2.80 instead ;-)

kathryn said...

Finally, all these months after I first saw this post on your blog I'm making pomegranate honey. I have a jar marinating away in my kitchen. Gosh it looks beautiful as is, I can't wait to actually try it. Thanks for posting Katrina, this really is a lovely, lovely idea.