Reduced Pomegranate Salad Dressing

March 26, 2017

Old Wisdom

Not only are pomegranates gorgeous, and absolutely delicious, these eastern fruits are jam packed with health benefits you will want to have them and include them one way or another in your daily diets. This delicious salad dressing is one way for you to include some pomegranate goodness in your everyday meals. It is super tasty and really makes any salad (even if just a bunch of leaves) way more interesting to have and serve. You can make it to dress my beautiful Feta Cheese and Pink Grapefruit Salad on this link, or you can use it to uplift an otherwise very boring potato mash say next to a grilled fish dish! Yes, think outside of the box and you will always be rewarded with amazing teats!

Before we jump into the recipe, let’s take a look why the pomegranate has become a superfood of choice for many people and what it can do for you!!

The health benefits of pomegranates are almost immeasurable! What makes this ruby red gemmed fruit special is that it is full of anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-tumor properties and is a good source of vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E) as well as folic acid. This amazing fruit consists of three times as many antioxidants as both wine or green tea. Pomegranates are so useful in maintaining effective and healthy blood circulation, which is the reason why many health practitioners suggest eating pomegranates to regain your strength after a long illness. The fruit is known to be a great cure for heart related problems, stomach disorders, cancer, dental conditions, osteoarthritis, anemia and diabetes. Pomegranates have been traditionally used for clearing up the skin and reducing inflammation. Pomegranate’s juice can also be useful for the treatment of sore throats.

According to a research study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, since pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, they can prevent the oxidization of LDL cholesterol, also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol.

The amazing health benefits of pomegranates can be enjoyed by consuming them in several ways. You can take them in the form of a juice or you can eat its seeds, syrup, paste, nectar or concentrate. Pomegranate syrups and molasses are useful for treating damage to cartilage and protects babies from brain damage incurred during their birth. These are just two of the important reasons that pomegranates have been turned to for their medicinal benefits since ancient times.

See the end of this recipe for other ancient ways to use pomegranate for its medicinal benefits!

Ingredients

¼ cup DS Premium Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup pomegranate juice, reduced to 1/4 cup
2 tbsp ruby red grapefruit juice (optional can be regular grapefruit or orange juice)
1 tbsp lime juice
pinch of salt flakes
Freshly ground black pepper

Reduce the pomegranate juice by placing it in a wide saucepan and bringing to a boil then simmering on low heat until reduced by 3/4.

Once reduced, in a small bowl, combine it with all the juices and season with the salt and pepper.

While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is emulsified.

Use this dressing to dress any leafy salad (lettuce, spinach, chards, Kale…) or dress a simple garden salad, a Greek Salad with Feta cheese or as another option to dress Fattouch. Really it works everywhere and is delicious, however way you use it.

This dressing keeps well in the fridge for a whole week. Make it and place in an airtight container, refrigerate and it will be ready to dress your salad any time.

Here are some ancient and traditional uses for Pomegranate that had been utilised for the treatment of many ailments…

Stomach Disorders

Pomegranate peel, bark and leaves are used to calm disorders of the stomach or the diarrhea caused by any kind of digestive problems. Drinking tea made from the leaves of this fruit also helps in curing your digestive problems. Pomegranate juice has also been used for handling problems like dysentery and cholera.

Heart Problems

Regular intake of pomegranate juice can maintain good flow of the blood in the body. Because of this property, it subsequently decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The antioxidant components that are contained in this fruit help to keep the bad cholesterol from gaining any significant presence and thus keeps the arteries clear of any clots. The clots are clear because pomegranates have the ability to make the blood thinner.

Cancer

Pomegranates contain high levels of antioxidants called flavonoids. These flavonoids are known to be effective in counteracting various cancer radials. People that face high risk of prostate and breast cancer should start drinking the juice of this fruit, as it will help them to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Regular consumption of pomegranates can reduce the PSA levels in the body and aid in the fight against existing cancer cells in the body.

Dental Care

One of the best benefits of pomegranates is that their juice, along with its antibacterial and antiviral properties, helps to reduce the effects of dental plaque and protects against various oral diseases.

Osteoarthritis

Pomegranates help reduce illnesses of many forms, including atherosclerosis and osteoarthritis. The damages that are caused due to the thickening and hardening of the arterial walls and in the cartilage and joints can be cured by eating this fruit. Also, pomegranates are capable of preventing the creation of enzymes that are responsible for breaking down connective tissues within the body.

Anemia

Healthy blood flow can be maintained in the body by consuming this fruit in any form. Pomegranate supplies iron to the blood, thus helping to reduce symptoms of anemia, including exhaustion, dizziness, weakness, and hearing loss.

Diabetes

For diabetic patients, drinking pomegranate juice can reduce the risk of various coronary diseases. Along with this, there is a reduction in the hardening of the arteries, which can inhibit the development of various heart diseases.