Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (1)

This fresh pomegranate salsa recipe is always tasty, but it’s especially fun for Christmas parties with it’s beautifulbrightred and green colors.

I am always trying to come up with creative ways to eat pomegranates. I absolutely love them, and get so excited when they go on sale this time of year. In the past I’ve used them in Pomegranate Saffron Rice, Pomegranate Tuna Salad, Homemade Pomegranate Juice, Homemade Pomegranate Molasses, Pomegranate Chicken, and a Pomegranate Saffron Yogurt Parfait.

Unfortunately, I often end up buying the Costco sized box of six pomegranates, and having half of the them go to waste because I forget to use them. I hate wasting food, and I hate wasting money by throwing away food!

This year, I decided to start with a pomegranate salsa, because we are a chip and cracker family. If it can go on a chip, it will definitely get eaten before it goes bad!

PIN TO SAVE FRESH POMEGRANATE SALSA:

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (2)

I loved the idea of the red pomegranate seeds, or arils, tossed with green peppers and onions for a festive mix of Christmas colors. I played around with the flavors, and decided to keep this salsa mild so that it’s kid friendly.

Corban actually really loves spicy food, but I try not to set his tongue on fire too often. If you want it spicier, feel free to leave some seeds in your jalapeno.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (3)

This recipe uses mostly fresh ingredients. I used minced garlic in a jar (even though fresh usually has a better taste), because I didn’t grow my own garlic this year, and the giant Costco jar in the fridge ends up lasting longer and costing less than buying the bulbs.

I also used fresh lime juice (forgot the lime for the picture) but you can use bottled lime juice if you have some.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (4)

Start by seeding and chopping your bell pepper. You want it chopped into pieces about 1/4 inch in size.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (5)

I suggest wearing gloves to seed and chop your jalapeno. It’s the best way to prevent getting burned when dealing with hot peppers. Theseare my favorite food prep gloves which I wear to workwith hot peppers, raw poultry, or when I’m feeling under the weather and don’t want to pass a cold on or wash my hands five million times. Chop both the jalapeno and your garlic cloves (if using whole cloves) as finely as you can.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (6)

Chop the ends of your green onions until you have about half a cup. Do the same for your cilantro, except only 1/4 cup.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (7)

I used to peel my pomegranates underwater, but this is my new favorite technique. To seed the pomegranate, start by scoring it all the way around the middle.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (8)

Get your thumbnails into the crack you made and pull. Repeat all around the pomegranate until you can pull it apart.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (9)

You should now have two pomegranate halves with the seeds in a pretty star shape.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (10)

Pull and stretch each pomegranate half at the cut edge to help separate the seeds from the pith.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (11)

Hold the pomegranate half over your bowl and hit the end repeatedly with a wooden spoon. The seeds will just fall right out!

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (12)

Squeeze your lime into the bowl then stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Eric and I love to eat this pomegranate salsa with organic corn tortilla chips. Corban eats his with a spoon! I think it would also be great with fish or chicken.

If you like fresh salsas, you might also like my Fresh Mango Salsa, Fresh Avocado Salsa, or Fresh Tomato Salsa. Have you tried making fruit salsas before? What’s your favorite?

Yield: 2 cups

Fresh Pomegranate Salsa Recipe for Christmas

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (13)

Prep Time20 minutes

Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno
  • 1 pomegranate
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 1 lime
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Seed and chop the bell pepper and jalapeno. Dump the chopped peppers into a large bowl.
  2. Remove seeds from the pomegranate and dump them into the bowl.
  3. Add the garlic, green onion, and cilantro to the bowl.
  4. Cut the lime into wedges and squeeze the juice into the bowl.
  5. Mix well, adding salt and pepper to taste.
  6. You can eat the salsa right away, but the flavors will develop and meld even more after at least an hour in the fridge.

Notes

Approximate cost/serving: I get my pomegranates when they're on sale for $1 a piece or less. I choose to do organic bell peppers (they're on the dirty dozen list) so that raises the price a little, they're also usually $1. The total cost comes out to a little under $4 for me but will round it to 4. That's just 50 cents a serving.

Vegetarian/Gluten Free: This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, paleo, etc.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

2 cups

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 23Saturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 282.98mgCarbohydrates: 5.24gFiber: 1.27gSugar: 2.87gProtein: 0.57g

We'd love to keep in touch. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and get your free download of our favorite healthy cute kid snacks.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your costs will be the same but Eating Richly Even When You're Broke will receive a small commission.

This helps us to cover some of the costs for this site. Thank you so much for your support!

Nutritional and cost information is for estimating purposes only, and subject to variations due to region, seasonality, and product availability.

Christmas Pomegranate Salsa Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does the pomegranate symbolize at Christmas? ›

The pomegranate symbolizes both birth and everlasting life in the Christian tradition, giving the vibrant red fruit a potent double symbolism at the Christmas holiday.

What is the best fruit to mix with pomegranate? ›

The most popular one is the apple pomegranate combo. Since pomegranate juice is high in iron, combining it with fruits high in vitamin C may help the absorption of iron. So we normally use a lemon or or few oranges or apple while juicing pomegranates in a slow juicer.

Do you cut a pomegranate vertically or horizontally? ›

Make shallow, vertical cuts on the outside of the pomegranate: Notice the gentle ridges along the outside of the pomegranate. Use your knife to cut along those ridges, just through the red part of the pomegranate skin, from blossom end to stem end. You should make about 6 cuts.

What goes with pomegranate flavor? ›

Pomegranate: Pairs well with apple, cardamom, cinnamon, citrus, cucumber, ginger, mint, and tropical fruit.

What does pomegranate mean spiritually? ›

A symbol of resurrection and life everlasting in Christian art, the pomegranate is often found in devotional statues and paintings of the Virgin and Child. In medieval representations the pomegranate tree, a fertility symbol, is associated with the end of a unicorn hunt.

What are pomegranates a metaphor for? ›

Pomegranates have diverse cultural-religious significance, as a symbol of life and fertility owing to their many seeds but also as a symbol of power (imperial orb), blood and death. Pomegranates already symbolised fertility, beauty and eternal life, in Greek and Persian mythology.

What should not be eaten with pomegranate? ›

Acidic and sub-acidic fruits such as grapefruits, strawberries, apples, pomegranates, and peaches, should never be combined with sweet fruits such as bananas and raisins. This is because it often leads to digestive problems, nausea, acidosis, and headaches.

What can you not mix with pomegranate? ›

Possible Interactions
  • ACE inhibitors. These types of drugs are used to control high blood pressure and to treat heart failure and prevent kidney damage in people with diabetes. ...
  • Blood pressure medication. Pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure. ...
  • Statin, medications used to lower cholesterols. ...
  • Warfarin (Coumadin).

Who should not drink pomegranate juice? ›

Drinking pomegranate juice might increase the risk of blood pressure dropping too low in people who already have low blood pressure. Allergies to plants: People with plant allergies seem to be more likely to have an allergic reaction to pomegranate. Surgery: Pomegranate might affect blood pressure.

Are you supposed to rinse pomegranate seeds? ›

You can fill the bowl halfway with water, so the seeds to sink to the bottom while pieces of the pith float to the top. This makes it easier to separate the seeds. Rinse and strain the seeds to remove any unwanted pith remnants. Now, the arils are ready to enjoy.

Are you supposed to eat pomegranate seeds? ›

Pomegranate seeds are edible and healthy, containing nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. The nutritional profile of pomegranate seeds is comprised of unique fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Consuming pomegranate seeds may enhance heart health, reduce inflammation, improve athletic performance, and boost memory.

Can dogs have pomegranate? ›

Raw pomegranate isn't toxic to dogs, but it can make them sick. 1 "Eating more than a few of the seeds or any of the peel can cause digestive issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain," says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian and consultant with PetKeen.com, a pet advice site.

What makes pomegranate taste better? ›

1. Freshness: Pomegranate seeds from a whole fruit are typically fresher because they haven't undergone extended storage or processing, which can affect flavor. 2. Ripeness: When you select and open a ripe pomegranate, the seeds are likely to be at their peak of sweetness and juiciness, enhancing their taste.

What cheese goes with pomegranate? ›

Try sprinkling pomegranate seeds over spreads of creamy goat cheese or ricotta, or look to match the fruit with mature blue cheese, soft Camembert, or melted brie.

What alcohol is made from pomegranate? ›

Any occasion can feel like a celebration with PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur.

What does the pomegranate symbolize in Christianity? ›

In Exodus (28:33–35) pomegranate designs are part of God's instructions for the making of priestly garments. Pomegranate Images appear on many ancient coins of the biblical period, representing prosperity and beauty. The presence of pomegranate trees was symbolic of a nation's financial and material wealth.

What fruit symbolizes Christmas? ›

For instance, ornamental apples symbolized the family and this fruit played a major role in holiday decorations. Apple ring wreaths were associated, at Christmas time, with the Holy Family and the Nativity. Other related wreaths featured fruits such as lemons, pineapples and oranges.

Are pomegranates Christmassy? ›

In the modern Greek tradition that meaning has shifted a little, the pomegranate now being a symbol primarily of prosperity and good fortune. Habitually, a single fruit is hung up above the door of the house on Christmas Day.

What fruit represents Christmas? ›

One theory behind the tradition of oranges in the stocking stems from the generosity of Saint Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle and Old Saint Nick), who was the son of a wealthy merchant and later in life a bishop.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6332

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.