Last Bite: Pomegranates

Over the last few years, my dad and I have made sharing a pomegranate a new winter-time tradition. It starts with a shallow slice into the skin of the ruby orb, encircling it from top to bottom. Then, he cracks the fruit open like an egg, giving me the bigger half before we dive into the interactive snack. You have to earn each bite of a pomegranate. Working through the white barriers, it’s a sweet reward to uncover a cluster of the treasured, red arils. Pop them off into a bowl with your thumb, relish each juicy bite, then get back to work. 

YouTube videos will reveal faster, easier ways to clean out the fruit — but where’s the fun in that?

Instead of taking a nibble at every turn, you can also let the arils pile up so they can be incorporated into a recipe. The superfood is packed with anti-oxidants, so why not enjoy it as much as possible during the peak of cold and flu season? Tyler Kulp, assistant manager of East End Food Co-op, recommends his famous Chickpea and Lacinato Salad. “This is a delicious, healthy, and visually striking dish,” Kulp says. “The dish has the heartiness of beets and kale to fortify us through the colder months. Each time I serve it, everyone wants the recipe!”