7 Things to Keep in Mind When Searching For Pomegranate Molasses

The pomegranate fruit is round in appearance with a hard reddish-brown shell. When you cut it open, the many tiny seeds present within are the only edible elements of this fruit. These seeds can be eaten as is, used as a garnish or pressed to obtain pomegranate juice. Even the dried version of seeds is an integral ingredient in some dishes.

The red color that emanates while cutting and handling this fruit is very strong. It tends to splash and stain your clothes and everything else in the vicinity, so be warned. This juicy fruit has a tangy and sweet flavor profile. The fact that pomegranates are high in antioxidants and cholesterol-free will encourage you to consume them more often. So, if you are searching for pomegranate molasses online, know some important facts about it.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Pomegranate Molasses

Fresh pomegranate juice is reduced to make pomegranate molasses, which appears richly dark in color and has a thick syrup-like consistency. The process of reduction intensifies the natural flavors of the fruit. Pomegranate molasses lends an earthy, sweet, sour, and fruity element to savory dishes from salad dressings, beverages, marinades, glazes to relishes and dips. At times it is even stirred into milk and rice-based desserts or drizzled over meringues and ice-creams.

While searching for pomegranate molasses, many people mistake it with syrup used to flavor cocktails called grenadine. The latter, however, is not suitable for savory cooking. Grenadine is loaded with added sugar, and the color is also much lighter than pure molasses, even though it does contain pomegranate juice.

Listed here are seven factors to bear in mind while searching for quality pomegranate molasses:

Assess the Purity

The best pomegranate molasses incorporates pure pomegranate juice. Usually, the most genuine version sold in the open market will only contain the juice freshly extracted from the primary fruit. Avoid the ones where the ingredients reflect additives like citric acid or glucose.

Observe the Flow While Pouring

A trick to know whether the molasses you intend purchasing contains added sugar or not is by observing its flow as you pour it out from the bottle. An even flow that breaks cleanly while pouring indicates its purity. When the stream stretches like in the case of honey making it difficult to stop the flow, the molasses in all probability contain additional doses of sugar.

Taste for Balance of Flavours

Pure pomegranate molasses strikes the perfect sweet and sour balance in terms of taste. It should have a rich flavor devoid of any bitter elements. The bitterness usually comes from the pomegranate rind which is deliberately excluded while preparing the molasses.

Price Matters

If you ever get to attempt preparing the molasses at home you will realize how labor-intensive a procedure it can be. You can rightfully equate it to a good quality product like olive oil hence, be prepared to shell out more for the best pomegranate molasses. Getting tempted by a cheaper price tag may result in settling for an inferior quality of molasses. Given that it is consumed by us, one should never compromise on the quality aspect.

Scan the Dates Reflecting on the Bottle

Always check the manufacturing and expiry dates reflecting on the bottle. Store-bought pomegranate molasses usually have a longer shelf life and must be refrigerated once opened. If you are not likely to use it that often, avoid a bottle nearing its expiry.

Examine for Sediments

The reduced juice has to be strained before being bottled. Look at the bottle carefully to check for any residual elements in it by way of remnants of the seeds. The clearer the liquid is, the purer will be the molasses.

Consistency Must Be Thick

To make molasses you have to reduce pomegranate juice till it thickens. The consistency is a big indicator of the quality of the molasses. If it is too runny, avoid buying it.

This Middle Eastern cuisine core ingredient adds a welcome depth of complexity to recipes that incorporate it. You may add a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar while reducing the pomegranate juice to enhance the flavor. Sharing some useful tips while attempting to create pomegranate molasses at home:

1. While extracting the seeds to juice them, ensure you do not add the rind or white part to the juicer as they make the molasses bitter.

2. Use only fresh pomegranate juice and avoid the canned variety.

3. Once you blitz the seeds, strain the mixture so you are left with only the pure juice.

4. Add a dash of sugar when you feel the fruit lacks that slightly sweet and juicy touch.

5. Remove the foam that collects on top while reducing the juice to make molasses.

6. Refrigerate pomegranate molasses to extend its shelf life.

Experiment with this versatile ingredient and make it your secret weapon in the kitchen.