Pomegranates are ripe now across the Southwest, and we get asked how to use this glut. I make mine into pomegranate juice, and pomegranate jelly, and homemade grenadine, and pomegranate molasses, and some pomegranate cordial. But I also love some made into this very tasty pomegranate vinaigrette dressing.

Dressing

A while ago we posted how easy it is to make apple scrap vinegar. Since I have so much vinegar, I am always looking for ways to use it.

This pomegranate vinaigrette so easy to make and it uses the fruit of the season plus that apple scrap vinegar to create a sweet and tangy dressing. I call is dressing and not “salad dressing” because I use it everywhere. Yes, for salads, but also on steamed greens, over some cooked rice, on that potato I cooked in the microwave because I came home “hangry,” and the dressing is even fine over some ramen-style noodles. Chicken too dried out? Pour some of this on it!

“Cheater Tip”

Store bought pomegranate juice is so much quicker than going to the trouble to blend up the juice. Sometimes we buy the good 100 percent pomegranate juice in the refrigerated section of the store (like in April). Avoid the super-sugary versions in the large cartons or cans.

Pomegranate Vinaigrette

arils of 1 medium pomegranate to yield 1 /3 cup pomegranate juice
1/ 3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/ 2 cup homemade apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon chia seeds
pinch of salt (optional)
dash of freshly-cracked black pepper (optional)

Arils of one medium pomegranate placed in a blender.
whirl into juice – roughly 1/ 3 to 1/ 2 cup from my pomegranates

Use this to make the dressing right in the blender or shake them together in a mason jar. The chia seeds will help keep everything from separating much.

Or if you are using store bought juice, you could whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until combined.

Storage

Honestly, there is not quite enough vinegar in here to store it on the counter. The juice plus honey plus chia seeds (they can grow mold) all indicate that any extra should be stored in the fridge. I would be concerned that the juice might go bad.  Chia seeds are something you can forage.  Time to plant this lovely Southwest wildflower is in the autumn.  Head over to Gardening With Soule to learn more about growing wildflowers.

This dressing does last a long time if it gets forgotten in the back of the fridge. The olive oil will get cloudy but once it comes back to room temperature the cloudiness goes away.

Use it Up!

I use this dressing for many many things other than dressing salad, and I would love to hear how you might use it.

More Ways to Use Honey

May we suggest our dandy little cookbook?   Using Honey in New and Savory Ways offers 36 pages of tips for using honey in your cooking, as well as in all manner of dishes. A steal at only $7!

We hope you will help support some local Southwest folks!
From the review:
“Honey is for more than desserts and this book can help! Using honey in cooking savory dishes helps engage all your taste buds and adds a layer of added flavor to everyday dishes – plus holiday fare.”

Beekeeper?  We offer volume discounts – because if you sell honey in local markets you might want to offer some of these books as well.

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