I have always been a little unsure about pomegranates.
Much like beets, I shrugged them off as just too much work.
How do I get those tiny seeds out?
How do I even eat them? Are they like sunflower seeds? Can I just pop them in my mouth?
Good Papa admitted that he had never even tried them before.
So, I’m glad that I decided to crack that bad boy open and give those delicious, juicy seeds a try.
W was also glad. Let’s just say, it was extremely difficult to make this salad and take pictures without his little, chubby hands sneaking fistfuls.
I was able to finish my pomegranate quinoa salad recipe and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.
The light citrus dressing and super healthy ingredients makes this a wonderful compliment to all of the heavy, rich dishes frequently served during the holidays.
Also, I love the colors of this festive salad. It’s the perfect side dish for a Christmas party!
Check out my recipe page for more healthy dishes like this one.
**For help getting those pesky seeds out, I just used the advice from Simply Recipes. Basically, after you cut down the ridges, pick the seeds out over a bowl of water. The membranes will float to the top and seeds will sink to the bottom. Easy as pie!
Ingredients
- 3 C cooked quinoa
- 2 C spinach
- 1 C cucumbers, chopped
- 1 C pomegranate seeds
- Dressing:
- 3/4 C olive oil
- 1/4 C champagne vinegar (you could substitute white wine vinegar)
- 2 1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tsp onion or shallot, minced
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook quinoa as directed on the package. I always use chicken or vegetable stock instead of water. It adds an extra flavor. Set aside to cool.
- Once quinoa is cool, mix in spinach, cucumber and pomegranate seeds.
- Whisk together orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, champagne vinegar, mint, onion, salt and pepper to make the dressing.
- Toss dressing with the salad*
- *Note: You really don't need much dressing. I would add a little at a time to your taste.
Do you like pomegranates? Let me know your favorite way to eat them in the comment section below. Interested in more healthy recipes? Check out the Real Food Recipe Round up!
i can’t remember the last time i had pomegranates! i will have to try this salad out, anything with quinoa i’m a sucker for! pinning 🙂
Amanda @ The Anti Mom Blog recently posted…{DIY} Handprint Snowman Ornament
I love quinoa too! It’s so good for you. Hope you enjoy the salad.
The Good Mama recently posted…Happy Holidays Paypal Giveaway
Looks and sounds amazing! Pinning now!
Kristen recently posted…My Favorite Things to Wear to Work
Thanks, Kristen! Thanks for sharing.
The Good Mama recently posted…Happy Holidays Paypal Giveaway
Yum and so very pretty!
Thank you, Mary Kay!
The Good Mama recently posted…Happy Holidays Paypal Giveaway
Sounds delicious! I love pomegranate! I usually struggle through getting the seeds out once every winter – so worth it!
Melissa, they really are worth it! It’s not so bad as I thought.
The Good Mama recently posted…Happy Holidays Paypal Giveaway
This looks amazing! I’ve made something similar before but not with pomegranates! Need to try. Pinning it for sure!
lindsey recently posted…Stocking Stuffers for Women- Gifts that Pamper and Accessorize
Lindsey, thank you! I would love to know your recipe. I love a good quinoa salad.
The Good Mama recently posted…Happy Holidays Paypal Giveaway
This looks fabulous! I am a huge fan of pomegranates and cut them in quarters and eat them off of the peel and pith. So juicy! You can also buy “pomegranate molasses” and use it as a sweet and tangy drizzle on things. It’s really just reduced juice, but yummy too. I also throw the seeds in with roasted Brussels sprouts.
Pomegranate seeds with Brussel sprouts sound amazing and so pretty for this time of year! I’m definitely giving that a try. W has been loving the pomegranates.
Hi Tricia!
I love pomegranates and have been eating them for years! I’ve found that you get much better quality and ease with seed removal if you buy that well known brand (that starts with a “P”), rather than unlabeled fruit. I make a winter salad with arugula/lettuce, toasted walnuts, shaved Parmesan cheese, pomegranate seeds and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Delicious!
Thanks, Melissa. I’m honestly not sure which brand I purchased. I’ll have to pay attention next time. Good to know! Your winter salad sounds delicious!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks, Theresa!
You’re right! It’s so festive looking!! We’ve eaten pomegranate seeds once and the kids weren’t impressed. This salad looks like something I would like though, so maybe I’ll have to make it for the grownups 🙂
Lauren recently posted…One New Food: Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe (Sort of)
It can be more difficult to please the kids, but hopefully you’ll enjoy this salad. You could always throw in something that you now they like. They may pick out the fruit that they like, but there’s always a chance they’ll try and like the rest.
Tricia the Good Mama recently posted…What NOT to do when Cutting your own Christmas Tree
This looks delicious. I have had a lot of pomegranates and I love them. Also it is very good for health. It gives a great boost to rbc count. I love the photos you took of this yummy salad. Thanks for sharing.
Jaya Pandey recently posted…Veg potato cheese sandwich
Thank you, Jaya! That’s one of the reasons I love this salad- it’s so good for you!
Tricia the Good Mama recently posted…What NOT to do when Cutting your own Christmas Tree
I love this unique recipe! Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays!
Simple Hacks Living recently posted…Make Unwrapping Presents Easy and Fun
I made this salad for lunch today.. Instead of olive oil, I used hemp seed oil. For onions, I sub. shallots and threw in roasted asparagus, spinach, pomegranate and diced orange bell peppers. Beautiful and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Oh that sounds delicious! I bet it looks so pretty and festive with the asparagus. I’m going to try that! Thanks for stopping by!
As a practicing writer, I have always adopted an instinctive logic it felt normal to
focus on the topic -> come up with ideas/answers -put it .
Yet, nothing can save me when I was writing concerning thermodynamics, as an example,
that, as you can imagine, is not my primary field of expertise.
Anyway, I took some great tips in the writing style, thanks for this:slightly_smiling_face:
Tania Tripoli recently posted…Tania Tripoli