21 Wonderful Pomegranate Recipes
Pomegranates are the total package: they're super tasty, add a great pop of color to any dish, and are astronomically good for you. In fact, this fruit's bright fuchsia seeds contain three types of antioxidant polyphenols: tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid—the super trio that helps fight off evil free radicals. Not to mention, researchers at the University of Huddersfield found that pomegranate's natural polyphenols can inhibit inflammation in certain brain cells, which in turn helps slow down or even prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. Now that's impressive! Plus, a single pomegranate (which is actually part of the berry family!) provides about 30 milligrams of cold-fighting, immune-boosting vitamin C and a whopping 11 grams of fiber to keep you full and satiated.
Luckily, this fantastic fruit is super versatile—giving you the green light to sprinkle the seeds on top of parfaits, add 'em to salads, or even snack on them all by themselves. And after you check out our awesome recipes, consider saving some of your pomegranate seeds to sprinkle over some of these 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes.
Apple and Pomegranate Frisee
Serves: 5
Nutrition: 165 calories, 11 g fat (1.4 g saturated), 24 mg sodium, 17.3 g carbs, 3.5 g fiber, 11.2 g sugar, 2 g protein
This light and crisp salad is the perfect lunch to help keep you awake while everyone else suffers from the 2 p.m. slump. It combines two of our favorite in season-picks—pomegranates and honeycrisp apples—so be sure to whip this one up before the next equinox arrives.
Get the recipe from Bakers Royale.
Salsa Verde Lentil Tacos with Mango-Pomegranate Pico
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 389 calories, 4.6 g fat (1.2 g saturated), 203 mg sodium, 69 g carbs, 16.3 g carbs, 13.3 g sugar, 15.9 g protein
Fire roasted tomatillos, poblano peppers, and garlic amp up the flavor factor of this dish. And much like authentic Mexican street tacos, these guys serve up some wholesome nutrition, too. Packed with plant protein and minimal fat (as well as folate, magnesium, and iron thanks to the small but mighty lentils), we're totally loving this fruit-topped spin for our next Taco Tuesday.
Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.
Winter Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 185 calories, 13.6 g fat (3.4 g saturated), 43 mg sodium, 12.4 g carbs, 3.1 g fiber, 5.7 g sugar, 5.5 g protein (calculated with 3 oz regular pecans and without citrus vinaigrette)
The winter solstice calls for stocking up on fuzzy socks, busting out the slow cooker, and scouting out the in-season produce. That's why this recipe features bright pomegranate arils and succulent persimmons in this must-try salad.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Sweet Tooth Salad
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 346 calories, 16.5 g fat (5 g saturated), 332 mg sodium, 18 g carbs, 4.2 g fiber, 10.8 g sugar, 31.9 g protein (calculated with 6 oz spinach, one apple, 2 oz pomegranate arils, 1 oz dried cranberries, 1 oz walnut, 2 oz feta, 3 oz grilled chicken)
Instead of digging into a calorie-packed fudge brownie, satisfy your sweet tooth with this guilt-free, nutritious salad. It packs in muscle-building protein from the sliced grilled chicken and a satisfying crunch from the apples and walnuts. Pack up this pick for lunch or nosh on it for a high protein dinner.
Get the recipe from Love From The Oven.
Goji Pomegranate Orange Smoothie
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 152 calories, 6 g fat (0 g saturated), 51 mg sodium, 21.1 g carbs, 3.2 g fiber, 16.8 g sugar, 4.6 g protein (calculated with 3 oz pomegranate juice and one cup almond milk)
Start off your day with this fruity superfood smoothie that's packed with 100% pomegranate juice, healthy fat-filled hemp seeds, chewy goji berries, and zesty orange peel. It's super high in antioxidants and nutrients like iron, manganese, magnesium, and vitamin C.
Get the recipe from Begin With Nutrition.
Cauliflower Shawarma With Pomegranate, Tahini, and Pine Nuts
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 248 calories, 21.7 g fat (4.9 g saturated), 454 mg sodium, 11.7 g carbs, 4.4 g fiber, 1.7 g sugar, 6 g protein (calculated with ⅓ cup tahini and 1 tablespoon butter)
While shawarma makes the Not That! List in our ranking of Greek foods, this blogger's veggie-based spin on the meaty staple is definitely Eat This!-approved. Instead of the usual lamb or beef, this recipe calls for cauliflower as the base. The micro cabbage is spiced with cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and allspice and then garnished with parsley and tahini as well as pomegranate seeds and roasted pine nuts for extra crunch.
Get the recipe from Oh My Veggies.
Wild Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 118 calories, 0.4 g fat (0 g saturated), 46 mg sodium, 27.2 g carbs, 3.4 g fiber, 18.7 g sugar, 3.6 g protein (calculated with 2 oz pomegranate juice, 2 cups water, and without honey)
Teeming with natural sugars and energy-boosting vitamin B6, sipping on this smoothie will ensure you're never a victim to an afternoon slump. We ditched the drizzle of honey because this drink is already sweet enough, thanks to pomegranate, wild blueberries, and frozen banana—which also happens to make this pick super slushy. Yum!
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
Holiday Fruit Salad
Serves: 5
Nutrition: 128 calories, 0.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 32.8 g carbs, 3.6 g fiber, 22.9 g sugar, 0.9 g protein (calculated with ⅙ cup honey)
Your average fruit salad gets a decadent twist with this blogger's honey vanilla bean syrup that's drizzled on top of persimmons, pomegranate, Asian pears, and apples. We're totally digging this for a fruity dessert! And for more better-for-you sweet stuff, check out these 11 Dessert Recipes With Hidden Vegetables.
Get the recipe from Gourmande In The Kitchen.
Winter Spa Salad With Lemon Chicken
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 422 calories, 18.9 g fat (3.9 g saturated), 298 mg sodium, 34.1 g carbs, 9.9 g fiber, 12.4 g sugar, 30.7 g protein (calculated with Greek yogurt, 7 oz chickpeas, and 1 oz olive oil)
This salad boasts impressive amounts of healthy fats, protein, and fiber for a perfectly well-rounded meal. Instead of using mayo for the creamy salad dressing, we opted for protein-packed Greek yogurt instead.
Get the recipe from Pinch Of Yum.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pan-Fried Goat Cheese and Pomegranate
Serves: 8
Nutrition: 276 calories,17.2 g fat (6.8 g saturated), 301 mg sodium, 21.1 g carbs, 2.8 g fiber, 5.6 g sugar, 11.1 g protein (calculated with ⅙ cup olive oil each for dressing and frying, 6 oz goat cheese, and ½ cup panko bread crumbs)
Three words: fried goat cheese. That should be enough to get you to try this delectable salad. It's so indulgent that you'll almost forget you're actually munching on a salad. That's why we slashed a bit of the fat by using smaller amounts of goat cheese and olive oil.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Pomegranate Orange Muffins
Serves: 14
Nutrition: (per muffin) 118 calories, 1.1 g fat (0 g saturated), 226 mg sodium, 25.2 g carbs, 1.1 g fiber, 13.5 g sugar, 2.6 g protein
This blogger was on a mission to create a sweetly satisfying breakfast, only to find butter missing from her fridge. Luckily, she found some applesauce and used it to replace the butter—making this batch of muffins 100% Eat This!-approved. Unlike your average 400-calorie bakery muffin, this pick is void of any artery-clogging fat or insane amounts of sugar.
Get the recipe from Pinch Of Yum.
Pomegranate Feta Bison Burgers
Serves: 4
According to the USDA, a 90%-lean beef burger may average 10 grams of fat, whereas a similar-sized buffalo/bison burger boasts only two grams of fat and 24 grams of protein—which is why bison is one of the best meats that burn fat. Top the patty off with caramelized onions, briny feta, and sweet pomegranate seeds, and you've got yourself a finger-lickin' lunch.
Get the recipe from Running To The Kitchen.
Summer Fruit Smoothie Bowl
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 213 calories, 2.2 g fat (0.8 g saturated), 88 mg sodium, 44.8 g carbs, 8.6 g fiber, 32.2 g sugar, 8 g protein (calculated with Greek yogurt, almond milk, 4 oz peaches, and omitted peaches in topping)
Smoothie bowls are all the rage right now, and this pick will totally result in an Instagram-worthy brekkie. Just blend some bananas, peaches, and blackberries with Greek yogurt and almond milk and then top with shredded coconut, pomegranate, crunchy granola, and blackberries.
Get the recipe from Real Food By Dad.
Creamy Tahini Kale Salad With Pomegranate
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 328 calories, 17.6 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 462 mg sodium, 37 g carbs, 7.2 g fiber, 8.1 g sugar, 12.3 g protein (calculated without olive oil in tahini dressing)
Healthy eating just got a whole lot easier with this creamy kale tahini salad. The leafy green is paired with red bell pepper, crunchy red onions, cucumber, and pomegranate and then drizzled with a decadent tahini dressing. Since tahini is creamy enough on its own, we skipped mixing in the olive oil in order to reduce some of the fat content. Besides being beyond delish, this salad is teeming with cold-fighting superpowers like vitamins A and C.
Get the recipe from Nutritionist In The Kitch.
Gingerbread Pudding Granola Breakfast Bowl
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 287 calories, 9.3 g fat (1.7 g saturated), 78 mg sodium, 38.1 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 17.6 g sugar, 17.4 g protein (calculated with tofu and 1 tablespoon maple syrup)
Just in time for the holidays, the kitchen-loving nutritionist behind this recipe dishes up a spectacular gingerbread pudding breakfast bowl. She uses protein-filled tofu for the pudding's base and adds ultra warm spices like ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. If you're not a tofu fan, opt for swapping it out for rich Greek yogurt instead. And since it's definitely gingerbread season, check out these 16 Best and Worst Christmas Themed Groceries.
Get the recipe from Nutritionist In The Kitch.
Pomegranate and Basil Cream Cheese Bruschetta
Serves: 15
Nutrition: 114 calories, 5.1 g fat (2.5 g saturated), 137 mg sodium, 14.9 g carbs, 0.8 g fiber, 7.3 g sugar, 2 g protein
This pick is definitely one of our favorite go-to appetizers to whip up because it's fast, easy, and everyone seems to love a savory sweet bruschetta. And while you're party planning, be sure to check out How to Host A Stress-Free, Healthy Dinner Party.
Get the recipe from Oh My Veggies.
5-Minute Honey Yogurt Quinoa Parfait
Serves: 1
Nutrition: 332 calories, 4 g fat (0 g saturated), 165 mg sodium, 63 g carbs, 7.4 g fiber, 24.1 g sugar, 13 g protein (calculated with ½ teaspoon honey, 2 oz pomegranate, ¼ cup quinoa)
This high protein snack is sweetened with honey and pomegranate seeds as well as fiber-filled quinoa and crunchy Cheerios. The best part? It only takes five minutes to build!
Get the recipe from Pinch Of Yum.
Cranberry Pomegranate Smoothie
Serves: 2
Nutrition: 161 calories, 0.8 g fat (0 g saturated), 103 mg sodium, 32.6 g carbs, 4.8 g fiber, 21.2 g sugar, 4.9 g protein (calculated with 3 oz pomegranate juice)
Don't fret the high sugar content—this smoothie is sweetened naturally with frozen banana, pomegranate juice, and cranberries. It's super refreshing and has a decent fiber and protein content. But if you're looking for something more muscle-building, check out these 23 Best Protein Shake Recipes before you hit the gym.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy.
Black Bean Nachos with Pomegranate Salsa
Serves: 6
Nutrition: 361 calories, 13.5 g fat (5 g saturated), 188 mg sodium, 49 g carbs, 10.7 g fiber, 4.8 g sugar, 14.7 g protein (calculated with 7 oz black beans, 2 oz Colby cheese, and 8 oz tortilla chips)
Here at Eat This, Not That!, we sure love our Tex-Mex favorites, which obviously includes a satisfying plate of cheesy nachos. Since traditional recipes pack in way too much fat and calories, we opted for piling our plates with these crispy tortilla chips topped with avocado, black beans, pomegranate, and Colby and feta cheeses.
Get the recipe from Love And Olive Oil.
Pomegranate Lavender Iced Tea
Serves: 3
Nutrition: 84 calories, 0.2 g fat (0 g saturated), 7 mg sodium, 21.5 g carbs, 2.9 g fiber, 16.8 g sugar, 0.6 g protein (calculated with 4 oz pomegranate juice and no added sugar)
Think of this brew as the sangria of teas. Earl Grey tea is steeped, cooled, and then joins orange, pomegranate juice, lime, apple, and strawberries, all topped with ice to create a seriously aromatic and nutrient-packed refresher.
Get the recipe from Begin With Nutrition.
Pink Detox Salad
Serves: 4
Nutrition: 270 calories, 9.8 g fat (3.3 g saturated), 219 mg sodium, 36.8 g carbs, 5.1 g fiber, 19.6 g sugar, 13 g protein (calculated with 2 oz feta)
This salad is teeming with bright ingredients like strawberries, watermelon, and grapefruit and then topped with a creamy protein-packed yogurt dressing concocted with fresh pomegranate juice and apple cider vinegar, which is praised for its waist-whittling effects. For more good-for-you recipes using the tart elixir, check out these 8 Awesome Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Drinks.
Get the recipe from Cooking Classy
