grown on terraces
One of the oldest edible fruits in Lebanon, it is a relatively easy crop to grow. From the coastline up to the mountains, pomegranates can tolerate saline or heavy soil. With so many varieties in Lebanon, many households will prepare their own pomegranate molasses in the autumn.
tart and tangy
Bring on a touch of acidity! In Lebanon, households store this in their kitchen cupboards as an essential kitchen ingredient for brightening up savoury dishes. Its tart and tangy taste brings life to a salad dressing for fattoush, and also cuts through the fatty taste of meat dishes like sfiha – open meat pies, pictured below. Pomegranate molasses is also a key ingredient in fesenjan a Persian dish often made with duck.
no added sugar
Check the label of the bottle of pomegranate molasses carefully. There shouldn’t be any added sugar. Zejd’s pomegranate molasses is made from a sour, cooking variety of pomegranate, with no added sugar. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, research continues to be carried out to ascertain the powerful health benefits which are associated with its use in Lebanon.
sweet or savoury?
Both. We’re firm believers that things need to earn their keep in the kitchen cupboards. So a multitasking ingredient is a bonus. The Chocolate Tart UK has paired it with Valrhona chocolate for one of her Lebanese Inspired Bonbons. This encouraged us to add it to sweet things too. We’ve used it in to put some zing in a blueberry compote, in chocolate florentines and a gluten free chocolate cake.
storage
Feel free to store this in the fridge once open. However, we keep ours in a kitchen cupboard next to the vinegar so it’s even more tempting to use!
life after pomegranate molasses?
Once finished, why not keep the bottle and use it to store some homemade elderflower cordial? The label peels off easily without soaking.
You’ll find more information about pomegranates molasses from Lebanon here.
Lisa Clarke –
This is the most delicious pomegranate molasses I have ever tasted – as a obsessive lover of the sharp and sweetness that pomegranate molasses brings to so much of my cooking I wasn’t expecting the divine rounded flavour that this molasses brings to a recipe. I drizzled it over vanilla ice cream last night and over my porridge this morning! I can’t get enough of it.
miranda –
Thank you so much Lisa!
Meg F –
These Molasses are delicious!!! I first tried them at the Whiteladies Market and bought some later that day. Utterly amazing on bread and in salads. I would choose 10 stars if I could!
miranda –
Thank you so much Meg, we’re delighted that you enjoyed it!
kat –
Simply the best!
kat
miranda –
Thank you!