18 Tasty Ways to Enjoy Pomegranates

You can throw these sparklers―dressed-up kir royales―together as guests walk in the door.

– Inspired by Cassandra LaValle, Seattle

Recipe: Pomegranate Fizzies

Pomegranate juice adds tartness and sweetness to the classic cocktail recipe, while the rosemary adds an earthy flavor and a holiday-themed accent.

Recipe: Pomegranate Moscow Mule

We give you options for making this refresher with or without alcohol.

Recipe: Pomegranate-Orange Cooler

It's hard to get more fun and festive than Jello shots with a dual layer of sparkling wine and pomegranate juice. But when you sprinkle Pop Rocks candy on top, the fun instantly gets ratcheted up!

Recipe: Pomegranate Champagne Jello Shots

When your stove is full, use a slow-cooker to simmer this tangy, aromatic mulled wine, and let guests serve themselves.

Recipe: Mulled Pomegranate Red Wine Punch

The skin of delicata squash is tender when roasted and very flavorful, so try it along with the flesh.

Recipe: Roasted Delicata Squash with Honey, Pomegranate Seeds, and Pepitas

Cookbook author Paula Wolfert learned how to make these herby, tangy skewers on an adventure in the Caucasus Mountains. The onions are traditionally grated by hand, but the marinade comes together in seconds in a food processor. It’s also delicious with chicken thighs or extra-firm tofu. Pomegranate molasses is made from fresh pomegranate juice cooked down to a syrup with lemon juice and sugar; concentrate is simply fresh pomegranate juice brought to a boil, then simmered until reduced. They are interchangeable in this recipe, says Wolfert.

Recipe: Pomegranate-Glazed Pork Skewers with Dill-Onion Marinade

Chef Philip Busacco of the Turkish-inspired Troya, on San Francisco’s Fillmore Street, uses halloumi as a canvas for salad, swapping in other fruit molasses and fruits.

Recipe: Arugula and Halloumi Salad with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing

Need a little excitement in your life (or at least your cooking)? Try this jet-black rice, filled with sweet hunks of roasted squash, toasted pecans, and juicy, bright-red pomegranate seeds. It's drama in a bowl, and it's utterly delicious.

Recipe: Black Rice Salad with Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Seeds

Fuyu persimmons and pomegranates add autumn color and a sweet-tart punch to bitter chicories (frisée and radicchio).

Recipe: Chicory Salad with Persimmons, Pomegranates, and Walnuts

With its light texture and “green” flavor, lettuce alone can be a challenge with wine, especially a red. McReynolds pulls it off by adding rich textures, savory flavors, and a verjus dressing (juice from unripe wine grapes), which has a softer acidity than vinegar.

Recipe: Green Salad with Almonds, Charred Onion, and Pomegranates

Pairing: Sip Stone Edge Farm “Surround” Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (Sonoma Valley, $50), with flavors of ripe red fruit, a touch of tobacco, and balanced oak in the background, or Simi 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24)).

When summer tomatoes are arriving by the truckload, this is fun twist on the classic Caprese.

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pomegranate Drizzle

Toasted walnuts, pomegranate seeds, thyme, and other flavors in this fall salad recipe make it a great first course for your holiday meal.

Recipe: Fall Salad with Nuts and Pomegranates

Pears and pomegranate seeds and juice flavor this tasty fall starter.

Recipe: Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts

This colorful salad looks artful on the plate.

Recipe: Watercress Endive Salad with Blood Oranges and Pomegranates

Thinly sliced prosciutto, browned and crisped in a little olive oil, adds contrast to juicy pomegranate seeds and sweet beets.

Recipe: Pomegranate and Beet Salad

For a new take on cranberry sauce, include pomegranate molasses and seeds for added depth to that tart taste you crave.

Recipe: Cranberry Pomegranate Sauce

Aquafaba, the beany liquid in canned chickpeas, whips up just like egg whites in recipes. Here, it's paired with coconut cream to create a completely vegan version of a pavlova. We've topped it with pomegranate seeds and shaved vegan chocolate for an elegant and festive dessert.

Recipe: Vegan Pavlovas with Pomegranates and Chocolate