Frozen pomegranate seeds

[KeenCook2 Profile]

Hello
We want to use pomegranate seeds in a Nadiya Hussain couscous tabbouleh (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tabbouleh_69461) - do you think frozen ones would be ok or should I get fresh ones? I've got a Tesco order coming on Sunday and at the moment both frozen and fresh are available. The frozen are a lot less expensive.
Thanks in advance

[Suelle Profile Website]

I've never tried them, but I think frozen seeds should be OK - they aren't really watery like strawberries, so should thaw without going mushy. Added bonus - if you only need to use a small quantity, there's no pressure to use the rest quickly.

[KeenCook2 Profile]

cheers, Suelle, will get the frozen ones

[mistakened Profile]

Can I just comment that pomegranates are not in season yet,

[Luca Profile]

cheers, Suelle, will get the frozen ones

Hi KC2. I completely agree with Suelle. Frozen are fine. Stick in a sieve over the sink in case of water loss (or a glass and add to smoothies) to drain and go for it! I’ve had no issues and very little water loss.

[Pampy Profile]

Can I just comment that pomegranates are not in season yet,

They must be somewhere in the world as most supermarkets over here stock them at the moment.

[KeenCook2 Profile]

I must say, they're not something I've bought very often - I think I've only ever bought the fresh prepared seeds, and only a couple of times, never the whole fruit. I have a feeling if I tried to open one I'd stain the ceiling with red juice and OH would never forgive me

[Pepper Pig Profile]

I always associate pomegranates with Christmas. Am I wrong?

[Busybee Profile]

Christmas, and a pin to pick the seeds out of the fruit. Circa 1970 onwards in my memories.

Not had a whole fruit for years.

BB

[smitch Profile]

I always associate them with Hull Fair, which is in October.

[Pampy Profile]

I buy them quite a lot - I like them in a salad. I always found the seeds awkward to extract but a while ago, someone (Sakkarin???) on here posted a You Tube video of a grower showing how to do it - and I've never looked back!
I always used to associate them with being available November/December in the UK but they seem to be around for most of the year now.

[Earthmaiden Profile]

I too associate them with those days when it gets dark early and there are tangerines and chestnuts for sale as well. Funnily enough, a FB friend who lives in Ohio, where it appears to be very warm, took a photo of a pomegranate growing on a tree which she passed on her walk today. It wasn't ready to harvest though.

[Amyw Profile]

I didn't know you could buy frozen seeds. I do think they're very pretty and good in salads . Pretty unique too there's not anything similar really in terms of texture and taste .

As for seasonal , I read they're seasonal in northern hemisphere sept to Feb and southern march-may. Surely the seasonality doesn't matter if they're frozen either.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Wasn’t there a thing about encouraging Afghan farmers to grow pomegranates so they have an alternative to opium poppies?

Pampy, was the video the one where you cur a round trapdoor in the top, so you can see the membranes that divide up the fruit and cut the sections between them apart? A bit like cutting orange segments without the membrane and pith? I find that works quite well

[Pampy Profile]

Yes - that's the one Sue.

I like to put them in plain yogurt to have with a curry.

[karadekoolaid Profile]

I always associate pomegranates with Christmas. Am I wrong?

Errmm; that´s the first time I´ve heard that, PP, but who knows? And my first question would be - what is the connection? Interesting!

In Indian cookery there are some regions which use anardana - ground pomegranate seeds - as a souring agent.

[KeenCook2 Profile]

[quote="karadekoolaid"

In Indian cookery there are some regions which use anardana - ground pomegranate seeds - as a souring agent.[/quote]

That's interesting, OH came back with 2 packets of dried whole seeds a while ago when I had asked him to get some fesh ones. They've been sitting in the cupboard ever since! Is it a bit like sumac in that regard? I think sumac is often used to add a slightly lemony, sour note isn't it?

[Stokey Sue Profile]

I always associate pomegranates with Christmas. Am I wrong?

Errmm; that´s the first time I´ve heard that, PP, but who knows? And my first question would be - what is the connection? Interesting!

In Indian cookery there are some regions which use anardana - ground pomegranate seeds - as a souring agent.

The connection is the same as the connection with tangerines, they just happen to be in season in the British winter, not related to Christian practice