A pomegranate is about the same size as an orange. In the beginning, the pomegranate is a yellowish fruit that turns a rich shade of red when it becomes mature. The husk is inedible, but the seed kernels situated in individual cells are. A sac filled with juice surrounds each seed, which is pressed out when the fruit is processed to make a fruity, sweet liquid.

If you are interested in incorporating the fruit into your diet, perhaps you will enjoy the following ideas for pomegranate desserts:

Pomegranate Parfait

When properly served and garnished, parfaits make an elegant dessert for get-togethers and romantic nights in. Ingredients to make a pomegranate parfait may include 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs (separated), 3/4 cup water, 1 cup pomegranate juice, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, and 1 cup whipping cream.

In a heavy saucepan, mix the gelatin and sugar together. Set aside so that you can whisk together egg yolks and water that is stirred into the gelatin mixture. Cook the ingredients over medium-low heat, making sure not to boil. You should constantly stir until the gelatin and sugar dissolve, which should take about five minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the pomegranate and lemon juice. Place the pomegranate mixture into the refrigerator. You should occasionally stir the dessert until the mixture slightly mounds when dropped from a spoon. This process will take about 2 ½ hours.

When the pomegranate mixture is ready, beat egg whites until stiff (but not dry). Thoroughly fold the egg whites into the pomegranate mixture. Set aside. Beat the cream until soft peaks form, and then carefully fold into pomegranate mixture. Chill the dessert in parfait glasses for at least four hours. A garnish for this pomegranate dessert includes whipped cream, chopped pistachio nuts, and of course, pomegranate seeds.

Pomegranate Syrup

To liven up a dessert, consider drizzling on pomegranate syrup – perfect for cheesecake.

A typical recipe calls for 1 cup of pomegranate juice and ½ cup sugar. Fresh pomegranate juice at home is as easy as adding 1 ½ to 2 cups of pomegranate seeds to a blender, which yields 1 cup of juice. Blend the seeds until liquefied. Pour the mixture through a sieve or fine strainer.

To make the syrup, combine the sugar and pomegranate juice in a 1 to 2 quart pan. Boil the ingredients over high heat – stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Boil the mixture for one minute, remove from heat, and then allow to cool. Cover the syrup and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Other ideas for a pomegranate dessert include:

Pomegranate Mousse – made with powdered sugar, mascarpone cheese, egg whites, and crème fraiche as some of the ingredients.

Pomegranate Yogurt Dip – made with chilled plain yogurt, finely chopped scallions, pomegranate juice, fresh cilantro, and pomegranate juice.

Pomegranate Muffins – made with pomegranate seeds, milk, one egg, butter, baking powder, flour, sugar, salt, and grated lemon peel.

Not only is Gnosis Chocolate conscious about its chocolate, its also dedicated to improving the plant as well. All Gnosis Chocolate products are made by hand, no machines, and all the ingredients are sourced sustainably.  The packing on the bars are 100% recycled and FSC certified, plus the labels are made from corn!  10% of the profits from Gnosis Chocolate are donated to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.

All bars are 2 oz. A few of the flavors offered:

Simplicity

Ingredients:Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna blue-green algae.

The essential chocolate bar.  Raw, organic cacao combined with Crystal Manna for mood and concentration enhancement. Vanilla beans are blend in Vanilla Bean for immune support. Making this bar  Simply Gnosis.

Cashew Goji Berry

Ingredients: Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Cashews, Goji Berries, Black Currants, Agave Nectar, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna blue-green algae.

A fusion of East and West whose taste and texture you’ll not forget. Soft-sweet goji berries gift their antioxidants, protein, and vitamins B6 and beta carotene for your beauty, and blood health. Rich in both protein and heart-healthy oleic acid, nuggets of raw, crunchy cashews nestled happily in-between.

Cool Peppermint

The Cool Peppermint gives you  fresh and clean in a bar. Containing chlorophyll,  a powerful anti-oxidant and tissue repairer, and peppermint, often called “the world’s oldest medicine”, which calms the stomach, and stimulates the body and mind.

Lemon Berry Rose

Ingredients:Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Dried Strawberries, Goji Berries, Black Currants, Cherries, Almonds, Cashews, Agave Nectar, Freeze-Dried Strawberries, Rose Hips, Rose Petals, Camu Camu Berry, Passion Flower, Lemon Zest, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Lemon Essential Oil, Rose Essential Oil.

Lemon Berry Rose’s ingredients support the immunity power of Vitamin C. Strawberries, goji berries, and cherries supply iron and a host of other benefits, while the Roses just make this a romantic and fragrant bar.

Pomegranate Acai

Ingredients:Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Brazil Nuts, Black Currants, Agave Nectar, Barberries, Pomegranate Powder, Acai Powder, Crystal Manna, Vanilla Bean.

The Pomegranate Acai Bar combines the antioxidant protection of acai and pomegranate with the raw, organic cacao.

SuperChoc

Check out Chocolate.com for more information on Gnosis Chocolate.

photo courtesy of Navitas Naturals

About Navitas Naturals

Since 2003, Navitas Naturals’ mission has been to provide premium organic power foods that increase energy and enhance health.  Their products are of the highest quality, sourced directly from farmers, and are cultivated sustainably and in accordance with fair trade practices. “We look to the past for inspiration,” says Adelman.  “Our products come from the wisdom of ancient cultures and their traditional use of plants for both culinary and medicinal purposes.” The company also supplies power food products as ingredients to other food and beverage companies.

About the products:

Navitas Naturals is making it easy for people to bring home the art of chocolate making with their innovative new Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits.  Available in three delicious organic superfood varieties – Goji Berry, Cacao Nib and Goldenberry – each of the fun and unique Kits creates 12 organic chocolates.
 
Navitas Naturals Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits are packed with antioxidants, and these healthy treats can be prepared in just minutes.  In addition to the Kit ingredients, the only other items needed to complete the easy recipe are a knife, a small bowl, a large bowl and an ice cube tray.  Each Organic Superfood Chocolate Kit contains raw: organic cacao butter, organic cacao powder, organic mesquite, organic lucuma, organic maca and the specific organic superfood which is featured in the chewy center of the chocolates (Goji Berry, Cacao nib, or Goldenberry).  “Raw cacao from Peru, goji berries from China, and goldenberries from Columbia are some of the most popular superfood items in the marketplace right now,” says Zach Adelman, President and founder of Navitas Naturals.

photo courtesy of Navitas Naturals

Each of the organic superfoods featured in the Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits have been revered for centuries by indigenous people for their culinary and traditional medicinal uses, and now modern science is demonstrating their nutritional value.  For example, raw cacao is one of the best sources of antioxidants, the richest food source of magnesium, and offers a vast array of essential minerals and nutrients.  Goji berries are one of the highest known sources of antioxidants and they contain 18 amino acids and all essential amino acids.  Mesquite is of great value to diabetics because it contains fructose which does not require insulin to digest and it is also a good source of lysine (an amino acid), calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc.

In addition to the new Organic Superfood Chocolate Kits, Navitas Naturals offers a wide variety of organic superfoods from around the world, including green stevia, raw cacao, mesquite, lucuma, acai, yacon, mulberries, maca, camu camu, goldenberries, pomegranate, chia, flax, goji berries, hemp, raw cashews, a greens blend, and a line of Trail Power snack mix blends and Twister Power superfoods blends. 

Location:

Navitas Naturals products are widely available at hundreds of stores throughout the U.S. and Canada including Whole Foods Markets, and on many websites including Amazon.com.  For more information, delicious recipes or to purchase, please visit navitasnaturals.com.