Pomegranate Juice

I’ve enjoyed ob’eh anar – freshly squeezed pomegranate juice – from street stalls all over Tehran, especially in summer when some are open all night to refresh shift workers and people on their way home from an evening out. Pomegranates are native to Iran and steeped in symbolism, they represent fertility, life and rebirth because of their many seeds. They’re traditionally eaten on the winter solstice, which is called yalda in Farsi, meaning rebirth as it’s the longest night of the year and the turning point where days become longer and light wins its ancient battle over darkness. See video below to learn more about Persian culture and cuisine. Pomegranates are most abundant in summer, and that’s when I like to use them to make this refreshing pomegranate juice with its balanced tart sweetness. Choose pomegranates that are heavy for their size with a smooth skin that has an even, deep-red colour, then follow the steps below to make fresh pomegranate juice at home.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1 ripe pomegranate
Ice cubes, for serving

Use fresh pomegranate juice to make this deliciously simple pomegranate sorbet.

Method

Cut the pomegranate in half.
Hold a pomegranate half over a bowl and squeeze to loosen the seeds.
Then tap the skin with the back of a spoon to dislodge them into your cupped hand (this minimises juice splatters).
Extract any remaining seeds with a small spoon or fingers, avoiding the membrane as much as possible.
Blitz in a blender then pass through a fine sieve.
Drink ob’eh anar over ice.