Fruit trees have this miraculous ability to produce a delicious edible from a single blossom; however, pomegranates do it with more flair and panache. The drama unfolds as orange orbs open to delicate squash blossom-like blooms that eventually form a deep scarlet, leathery skin packed with tiny ruby-jeweled seeds, perfect for the beginnings of a seasonal martini.
My tree produced over 100 pomegranates this year, so besides juicing them for drinks, I de-seeded them for salads and made pomegranate jelly, something I started doing in my teens to give away for holiday gifts.
Even as the pomegranate season draws to a close, with most of her leaves fallen and naked limbs exposed, she retains her dignity—like Persephone retreating within—waiting until spring awakens her once again with gifts of tender budding greens. I try not to play favorites, but can you tell how much I love my pomegranate tree?
To celebrate this transitional season, I juice the seeds, a labor of love, and make a tart libation. My pomegranate martini is infused with fresh juice, gin or vodka, orange liqueur, and a splash of lime juice. Divine.
This sipper makes a colorful pre-Thanksgiving dinner cocktail. I love the glamour of the straight-up martini. You can make a batch for a crowd by combining the juice, gin or vodka, liqueur, and lime in a pitcher and chilling it until ready to drink. Pour it over ice and add sparkling water or white wine.
Treasure times with family and friends and celebrate togetherness with good food and drink!
The Pomegranate Martini
Makes one martini
Some may feel intimidated by the amount of juice you need to squeeze. Never fear. I have found the easiest and most efficient way to juice a pomegranate is to use an electric juicer, like you’d use for oranges. Wear an apron because the red liquid will squirt onto your clothes, countertops, and elsewhere, but you will be rewarded with plenty of juice. This recipe calls for equal measures of juice and alcohol. Feel free to increase the gin or vodka to two ounces with the same amount of pomegranate juice.
1 ½ ounces fresh pomegranate juice*
1 ½ ounces gin or vodka (I prefer gin)
½ ounce orange liqueur, such as Solerno (a Sicilian blood orange liqueur), Cointreau, or Royale Orange from France (my favorite for its orange peel flavor)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 thin lime slice for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Measure and pour the pomegranate juice, gin or vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice into the shaker.
Shake, shake, shake. I usually do about 25 shakes.
Strain the mixture into a martini glass and garnish with a lime slice.
Sip and savor.
* Feel free to substitute bottled pomegranate juice.
Fun fact: I was curious to know how many seeds were in an average pomegranate. My research revealed anywhere from 600 to 1400 seeds, depending on the fruit size. Who took the time to count all those seeds?
The seeded juice is prized as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vitamin C elixir. Plus, it’s excellent for brain health. In Sicily, pomegranates are stacked high in pyramid form and juiced on the spot for a refreshing drink.
Eat a pomegranate and visit a bath; your youth will haste back. Ancient Egyptian proverb.
Ciao for now,
