Make Pomegranate Soup

Not only is pomegranate a beautiful looking fruit, but it also has many health benefits, such as helping to clear clogged arteries and providing a rich supply of antioxidants. The juice, which can be bought in bottles in any supermarket or health food store, can replace any citrus juices used in soups. Most often, people simply cut the fruit in half and chew on the seeds but you can make a healthy, flavorful soup as well. The following is a variation of ash-e anar, a thick Iranian soup.

Ingredients

 * 3/4 cup lentils
 * 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
 * 1 medium onion, chopped
 * 8 cups water (2 quarts)
 * 1 cup long-grain rice
 * 1 teaspoon turmeric
 * Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
 * 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
 * 1/2 cup chopped green onions
 * 1 cup pomegranate juice
 * 1 tablespoon butter
 * 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint or 2 teaspoons crushed dried leaf mint
 * 1 tablespoon raisins
 * 1 lb ground beef, seasoned and shaped into meatballs (optional)
 * Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Steps

 * 1) Pour the lentils in a colander. Set it in the kitchen sink and run cold water over them to clean them. Rinse them until you are sure that they are clean. Set it aside to drain.
 * 2) Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine in a large saucepan.
 * 3) Add onion and saute until tender.
 * 4) Add water, drained lentils, rice, turmeric, salt and pepper and meatballs.
 * 5) Bring to a boil.
 * 6) Reduce heat and cover. Simmer over low heat 40 minutes or until lentils and rice are tender.
 * 7) [[Image:Cut_in_half_160.jpg|150px|right]]Open the pomegranate and extract the juice using a lemon squeezer. Or, separate the seeds (as shown in the video below) and use the method described in How to Make Pomegranate Juice.
 * 8) Add the pomegranate juice along with parsley and green onions and simmer about 15 minutes longer.
 * 9) Melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine in a small skillet.
 * 10) Add mint and raisins. Saute until butter or margarine is golden brown. Pour over soup.

Tips

 * Pomegranates are also used as a decorative item because they look pretty, are colorful and have a shiny outer skin. You can even make a jack-o-lantern from one.
 * Place it in fruit bowl and put on top of your dining room or kitchen table, adding other fruits, such as bananas, oranges and even grapes.
 * [[Image:Pomseeds2_161.jpg|right|125px]]The pomegranate is a unique and versatile fruit that can be used in a variety of ways. The inner fruit looks like tiny gems when removed from the shell and placed on a plate.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Shorbat Rumman Iraqi Pomegranate Soup (Vegetarian)
 * How to Make a Pomegranate Mojito
 * How to Make a Pomegranate Jackolantern
 * How to Make Pomegranate Juice
 * How to Make Lotus Root Soup

Sources and Citations

 * Recipe credit - Mideast and Mediterranean Cuisines by Rose Dosti