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Whilst a yogurt dressing tames the pungent kick of radishes, the tart and sweet pomegranate molasses elevates it. The two ingredients work together to bring the best flavours out of fresh radishes. This is a dish for those who like radishes as a salad.
I saw these beautiful radishes in the market and did not need much persuasion to buy them. I was also bemused by a circle of elderly ladies huddled over the display. How animatedly they spoke about the best way to prepare the radishes! I wasn't quite sure how I would eat them. All I knew was they looked pretty and oh what a wonderful shade of shocking pink!
As I had just bought 5 pomegranates a day earlier, I used about 1 and 1/2 of them to make pomegranate molasses for this salad. I knew they would go well together. They did. I ate the whole plate of salad that you see above on my own, in one sitting. Delicious.
If you think you will be stuck with too much pomegranate molasses, you will not. It is quite addictive and there are so many uses for it. Scroll down to 'Tips' for ideas. And, if you do not want to make the molasses, you could always buy a bottle.
If you think you will be stuck with too much pomegranate molasses, you will not. It is quite addictive and there are so many uses for it. Scroll down to 'Tips' for ideas. And, if you do not want to make the molasses, you could always buy a bottle.
RADISH POMEGRANATE SALAD WITH YOGURT DRESSING & POMEGRANATE MOLASSES
Prep:
|
10 minutes if you buy the pomegranate molasses.
15 minutes if you choose to make the pomegranate molasses. |
Cook: | Zero if you buy the pomegranate molasses. ~60 minutes If you choose to make the pomegranate molasses. |
Inactive: | - |
Level: | Easy if you buy the pomegranate molasses. Moderately easy if you choose to make the pomegranate molasses. |
Serves: | 2 - 3 persons as part of a meal |
Oven Temperature: | - |
Can recipe be doubled? | Yes |
Make ahead? |
No
|
Just the ingredients
To make pomegranate molasses
2 large pomegranates
OR
Store-bought pure pomegranate juice (~ 1cup;8.45oz;250ml)
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice Alternatively, buy the pomegranate molasses
A small bottle of pomegranate molasses (you need ~ 2 Tablespoons)
The rest of the salad
Pomegranate arils from 1/2 a pomegranate 2 young radishes (~7.76oz) (~220g) 2 - 4 Tablespoons labneh or greek yogurt or creme fraiche
2 - 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sprig of dill
Salt
Black pepper
|
To make pomegranate molasses
2 large pomegranates
1.5 of it for juice (~ we need 1 cup worth of juice) and half the fruit for the arils to scatter over the plated salad.
OR
Store-bought pure pomegranate juice (~ 1cup;8.45oz;250ml)
With no added sugar and not from concentrate. I would not head for the chiller section. Those found there are often full of added sugar or are mixed with other fruits. Instead, look for it along the organic food, drinks or the speciality food aisles.
You would still need 1 pomegranate as 1/2 of the fruit has to be added to the salad.
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
OR
Store-bought pure pomegranate juice (~ 1cup;8.45oz;250ml)
With no added sugar and not from concentrate. I would not head for the chiller section. Those found there are often full of added sugar or are mixed with other fruits. Instead, look for it along the organic food, drinks or the speciality food aisles.
You would still need 1 pomegranate as 1/2 of the fruit has to be added to the salad.
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
Alternatively, buy the pomegranate molasses
A small bottle of pomegranate molasses (you need ~ 2 Tablespoons)
I bought mine from a gourmet grocery store. Did you know that Grenadine syrup is pomegranate based? You have to read the label though as a lot of brands add artificial flavouring(s). Some brands of Grenadine syrup have orange blossom water added to it. That is fine. If you do have a bottle of that in your cupboard, I would use it as a substitute.
What to do with the remaining pomegranate molasses? Please scroll down to 'Tips'.
The rest of the salad
Pomegranate arils from 1/2 a pomegranate
2 young radishes (~7.76oz) (~220g)
2 - 4 Tablespoons labneh or greek yogurt or creme fraiche
Pomegranate arils from 1/2 a pomegranate
2 young radishes (~7.76oz) (~220g)
2 - 4 Tablespoons labneh or greek yogurt or creme fraiche
Labneh is yogurt that has been drained overnight to remove excess whey so that you get a nice thick cream-like consistency. It's super easy to make and there are many uses for it. Click, Labneh, Yogurt Cheese.
Alternatively, use greek (or greek style) yogurt without draining but the dressing will be looser. It has a thicker viscosity than regular set yogurt. Using regular set yogurt will make the dressing too watery. It is much better to buy the thicker set greek (or greek style) yogurt to drain to get labneh.
Creme fraiche is luscious thick cream with a slight sour tang. They are sold in little tubs. No need to drain before using on the salad.
Creme fraiche is luscious thick cream with a slight sour tang. They are sold in little tubs. No need to drain before using on the salad.
2 - 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sprig of dill
Salt
Black pepper
Method
To make pomegranate molasses
The molasses making process would be much easier if you went to the store to buy a bottle of pomegranate juice. Read the list of ingredients to ensure that you are buying pure pomegranate juice with no added sugar and that it is not from concentrate.
If you are squeezing your own pomegranate juice, slice the fruit crosswise into two. Use a teaspoon to scoop out the arils. Alternatively, use the back of a wooden spoon to whack the back of the cut fruit to release the arils.
The most efficient way to get juice is to run the arils through a fruit juicer.
You could also use a food processor. Strain through a sieve, pressing down on seeds to get all the juice. Discard the seeds.
Finally, squeeze the juice out by using an orange squeezer. Strain through a sieve, pressing down on seeds to get all the juice. Discard seeds.
You could also use a food processor. Strain through a sieve, pressing down on seeds to get all the juice. Discard the seeds.
Finally, squeeze the juice out by using an orange squeezer. Strain through a sieve, pressing down on seeds to get all the juice. Discard seeds.
Add juice, sugar (1/4 or 1/2 cup? Depends on how sweet the pomegranate juice is) and lemon juice to a pot and bring contents to boil over medium-high heat.
Continue to boil down until you have a syrup that clings to a spoon almost like honey but not as thick.
Takes about 45 - 60 minutes. There is no need to cook it down to a sticky syrup as the syrup will thicken further as it cools.
If you do over boil it and it turns into a near toffee, add 1/2 Tablespoon of hot water to start with to thin it down. A syrup with a viscosity slightly looser than honey is what you are after.
Remove from the burner and cool completely before using. Store in the refrigerator.
The salad
Mix a little salt into the labneh or yogurt or creme fraiche.
It is best to use a mandoline to slice the radishes as thinly as possible.
Coat the radishes with the yogurt. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Overlap the radishes on your serving platter so that you have one flat layer. This ensures that each slice of the radish will be well dressed in pomegranate molasses, etcetera.
Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil and then the pomegranate molasses over the radishes.
Dust with black pepper and salt.
Sprinkle on the pomegranate arils and finely cut dill.
Drizzle on more extra virgin olive oil to finish.
Tips
What to do with pomegranate molasses
- Use it in place of honey over cereal, yogurt, museli, in salad dressings, ...
- On ice cream, sorbets, over the cream on pavlovas pancakes, waffles,...
- Diluted to poach fruits.
- Use it in savoury dishes as a glaze for chicken, pork,...
- In a cocktail. Grenadine syrup, made from pomegranates, is after all an essential component in many a cocktail. Shirley Temples, Tequila Sunrise, Pink Lady, ...
- Dilute with water, add ice and enjoy. Also good as a hot beverage.
- Eat it with a spoon, sparingly of course.
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