Pomegranate Marinade Recipes

POMEGRANATE MARINADE

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, crush garlic, black pepper, and Aleppo chile pepper; add bay leaves and thyme. Crush to release oils. Transfer to a nonreactive bowl; whisk in molasses, vinegar, and olive oil.

POMEGRANATE-MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• To marinate chicken: Stir together pomegranate molasses, olive oil, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
• Remove skin and trim bones from the side of each breast.
• Place chicken in a glass baking dish.
• Pour marinade over chicken, cover and refrigerate overnight, turning once.
• To prepare pomegranate dressing: Combine garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, honey and pomegranate molasses in a bowl, whisking well.
• Whisk in olive oil slowly, blending well.
• Stir in mint.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Heat a 10-to-12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade.
• When the pan is hot, place chicken skin-side down and brown well.
• Transfer to a rack set in a roasting pan.
• Spoon a little marinade over the top and roast about 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken tests done in the thickest part.
• (Discard unused marinade.) Transfer chicken to plates and Drizzle with pomegranate dressing and serve.

POMEGRANATE JUICE MARINADE OR SALAD DRESSING -

Steps:

• Add the pomegranate juice to a small nonstick saucepan and bring to a boil. Keep it at a gentle boil and let the juice reduce down to around 1/3 cup. Let the juice cool for about 30 minutes.
• Add remaining marinade ingredients to the saucepan with the pomegranate juice and whisk until blended.
• Add your meat and all of the marinade to a sealable gallon plastic bag. Place bag in a bowl or dish and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, shaking the bag occasionally to make sure all surfaces of the meat are in contact with the marinade.
• Remove meat from the marinade (discarding the leftover marinade) and grill or broil as desired. Use it for chicken, beef, pork and fish or also as a salad dressing.
• Nutritional Information Per 1 tablespoon marinade: 30 calories, 0.1 g protein, 5 g carbohydrate, 1.4 g fat, 0.2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g fiber, 1 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 39%. © 2006 Elaine Magee.

ROASTED QUAIL DATE AND POMEGRANATE MARINADE

Steps:

• Remove the backbones from the quail or ask your butcher to do this for you. Rinse and dry them on paper towels. Place in a shallow pan. Mix remaining ingredients, except pomegranate seeds and parsley, in a large bowl. Pour mixture over the quail and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Drain the quail and keep the marinade. Place the quail in a roasting pan with some olive oil and roast them for 15 minutes or until done. Meanwhile, strain the marinade into a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until syrupy. You may wish to add 1 teaspoon of butter or olive oil. Mix well. Taste the marinade and season, to taste.
• Pour the sauce onto 4 plates and place the roasted quail on top. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

POMEGRANATE-MARINATED LAMB WITH SPICES AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Whisk pomegranate molasses, coarsely chopped garlic, olive oil, ground ginger, cinnamon, 1 3/4 teaspoons cumin, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Add lamb and toss to coat. Cover and marinate 2 hours at room temperature, or up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Drain, reserving marinade. Pat lamb dry.
• Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add meat and bones, if using, and cook until browned, turning occasionally, about 2 minutes total per batch. Return all lamb and bones to skillet. Add reserved marinade and 1/4 cup water. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer over medium-low heat until meat is tender, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring remaining 1 cup water and chicken broth to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add couscous and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cumin. Remove saucepan from heat and let stand covered 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork, then stir in butter until melted. Divide couscous among plates and top with lamb, pomegranate seeds, and basil leaves, spooning remaining sauce over lamb.
• A thick pomegranate syrup; available at some supermarkets, at Middle Eastern markets, and from adrianascaravan.com.

POMEGRANATE LAMB MARINADE

Steps:

• Mix olive oil, pomegranate syrup, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary together in a bowl until well combined.