JAN
11
Pomegranate Salsa a Seasonal Salsa Recipe for Winter [Giveaway]
Homemade salsa is one of my favorite snacks. But how do you make tasty homemade salsa in the winter?
My mind was wandering the produce aisle looking for a wintery red substitute for tomatoes. And there was my aha! moment. Pomegranates.
Their rich red color seemed and excellent substitute for tomatoes. I would create a pomegranate salsa recipe.
Have you ever though of using a pomegranate for salsa?
I usually just eat a pomegranate by removing all of the arils and placing them into a bowl. Then I enjoy scooping them up with a spoon and eating bite after bite of juicy goodness.
Sometimes I add them to a bowl of yogurt and granola, to a salad, like this Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad, or I use the juice to make Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider.
But I have definitely never tried pomegranates in salsa before.
Pomegranates are a particularly attractive winter produce to me.
Not only because the pomegranate fruit makes me forget we are in the midst of winter with it’s bright juicy arils, but also for their amazing health benefits.
The Health Benefits of Pomegranates
- Source of many essential nutrients, such as: Vitamins C and K, fiber, folate, copper, phosphorous, and potassium.
- Powerful antioxidants; they offer anti-cancer , alzheimer prevention, and cardiovascular health benefits – may improve healthy cell survival, induce cancer cell death, and prevent tumor growth. (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2005)
- Contain Anthocyanins which have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
- Anti-inflammatory properties encourage radiant, youthful skin when incorporate into skin care products.
Pomegranates are obviously the star of the show in this recipe, but this winter salsa recipe also boasts cilantro, jalapeño for a little heat (adjust it to your liking), red onion, a hint of lime, and diced cucumber.
It kind of looks a little bit like Christmas salsa with all the red and green. And it tastes even better than it looks.
Now, I know cucumbers aren’t in season, but they are a vegetable that doesn’t seem to have as degraded quality during the off season and their flavor is a great match for that of pomegranates.
If, however, you want to keep things even more true to winter, you can omit the cucumber completely or try substituting diced celery or fennel for some color contrast.
Recipe Preparation Tips:
- For super quick preparation, try POM Wonderful’s ready to serve POM POM Fresh Arils.
- Serve scooped and eaten with chips, on top of a plate of greens for a tasty salad, over grilled meat or fish as a relish, or tossed your favorite grain, such as quinoa, for a side dish.
What is your favorite way to eat a pomegranate?
Giveaway:
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Pomegranate Winter Salsa
Yield: about 4 cups
Prep Time: 10 - 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups pomegranate arils
1 1/3 cup diced cucumber - seeds removed
1 - 3 jalapeños, seeds removed and minced
1/4 - 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/3 cup diced red onion
squeeze of half a limeDirections:
Combine all of the prepared ingredients in a bowl, starting with using only 1 jalapeño. Stir to combine. Test for heat preference and add additional jalapeño if desired.
Notes:
Choose your Heat Preference:
- 1 jalapeño = mild salsa
- 2 jalapeños = medium salsa
- 3 jalapeños = hot salsa
Tip for Dicing Cucumbers:
Cut cucumbers down the middle lengthwise. Scrape out all of the seeds and discard. Then, dice the remaining cucumber.
Disclosure: POM Wonderful has compensated for my time and provided coupons for POM POM Fresh Arils to create my recipe. However, all experiences contained in this post are my honest opinion.





Hello! I'm Katie Goodman, author of GoodLife Eats Etc. where I share what I find in my life. A mix of great recipes, family memories, adventures, good reads, and anything else that I love is what you will discover here.



I like to eat pomegranates on top of a salad! They are yummy and have so many health benefits. Katie, this salsa looks and sounds delish! I am going to make some very soon.
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I was already intrigued by the idea of a pomegranate winter salsa. Then I saw the jalapeños and I knew this was the recipe for me. Definitely going to give it a try soon! And hopefully it’ll be by new favorite way to eat pomegranate.
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I’m pretty boring. I love to just sit on the couch (encased in towels and an apron!) and pick the arils out one by one. It’s satisfying, and makes me appreciate each seed all the more!
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I think that I mainly eat them by themselves. But, I started putting them in overnight oats – and it’s amazing!
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I like to eat them plain: score and quarter the flesh and eat the arils by the mouthful.
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Beautiful! I love any excuse to break out a pomegranate in the winter. This sounds wonderful!
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In a salad! YUM!
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As such…by spoonfuls…love poms!
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I love to eat pomegranate arils in fruit salad. They’re especially delicious over yogurt. My current favorite way to eat pomegranates is in a warm Brussels sprouts salad.
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Katie replied: — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:28 PM
We love roasted Brussels sprouts. I can only imagine how tasty they would be tossed with pomegranate!
I love pomegranates with chocolate cake!
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I love them plain, just as they are! I cut the pomegranate in half and then carefully tear off each section as I eat it. SO good!
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I love to have pomegranates with my daily yogurt. This salsa looks great, going grocery shopping today and will buy everything so I can make this. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway.
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In salads and in plain greek yogurt.
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I love pomegranates in my winter breakfast crisp with baked pears. Yum!
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This salsa recipe sounds so intriguing. I love pomegranates just on their own too!
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I love pomegranates plain (and pretty much any other way, also). I think I might give the salsa a try!
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We like to just eat the arils plain! Or as part of a Winter Fruit Salad http://greenthyme.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-fruit-salad.html
We made the salad for Thanksgiving and it was delcious!
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I love them on top of chocolate brandied pudding.
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wow, sounds amazing. I love pomegranates in salads. But I might end up liking this way more.
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My favorite way to eat pomegranates is adding them into a granola yogurt parfait. It add so much crunch and freshness.
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Quite frankly, Katie, the pomegranate has never caught my eye until now. Upon reading your post, I feel inspired to whip up a bowl of salsa. Thank you!
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I love to put pomegranate arils on my spinach salad with goat cheese
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I have NEVER eaten a pomegranate before!!! (I KNOW!) I love the POM juice though!!
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On a salad.
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I like to eat pomegranates straight from the fruit. It reminds me of when I was little and my mom would open them for me and I would sit contentedly digging out the wonderful little nuggets.
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i like them right out the packing. i snack on them in the car on the way home from the grocery store. thanks
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I love them just plain…but i love the POM juice omg
yummy
thanks for an opportunity to win!
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I like them in juice or with Greek yogurt
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My favorite way to eat pomegranates is to sneak-eat the delicious little arils when I’m supposed to be putting them on a salad.
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I love eating pomegranates over vanilla ice cream!
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Katie replied: — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:26 PM
That sounds great! I have not tried that before. Kind of balances out the indulgence of ice cream a little when paired with pomegranate!
I like to eat pomegranate on a Spinach Salad
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with greek yogurt
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I love to eat them by the handful. Thanks for the chance to enter.
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I just like to pop them out and eat them plain
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I like just eating the seeds straight up.
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In a salad or just plain
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<3 the color and texture they bring to a winter salad. Can't wait to try the salsa.
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Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
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Katie replied: — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:25 PM
Hi Brandie – will you please share your recipe for pomegranate glazed salmon? sounds tasty!
Brandie replied: — January 14th, 2013 @ 6:05 AM
I use this recipe from Bridget at the Way the Cookie Crumbles:
http://www.crumblycookie.net/2010/10/28/pomegranate-glazed-salmon/
The only changes I make to the recipe are, I sprinkle some pomegranate seeds on top when its finished. You may also have to adjust the broiling times depending on the thickness of your salmon. I find the 6 minutes is never long enough for the salmon I buy.
In a salad, mixed in greek yogurt or just plain!
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I’ve only had them juiced.
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I have never eaten a pomegranate before so I thank you for the recipe. I almost picked the arils up last week at Sam’s Club so maybe next week I will reconsider them for this recipe.
Have a beautiful day!
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I have never tried them until I started feeding them to my parrot. So I tried them and loved them. So far I just eat them plain.
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usually in a salad
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I love pom juice and my favorite way is actually plain!
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I have never eaten a pomegranate….but i love love love POM juice!
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looks amazing Katie
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The picture alone was enough for me to try this recipe. It’s just so colorful. This is a great recipe for a girls nite. I’m already trying to think of other ways to use the salsa.
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Great recipe! Would be good for girls nite. I’m glad I tried it.
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mixed in with quinoa! I like to make quinoa with lemon juice/lemon zest, spinach and then once cookced add pomengranate seeds and goat cheese on top. So colorful and deliciosu…Looks like christmas
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Katie replied: — January 13th, 2013 @ 10:12 PM
That sounds delicious and great for lunch!
On salads! Green salads or grain salads.
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All by their delicious self but usually my kiddos gobble them up before I get any!
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i eat them in a salad sometimes i put in a smoothie i love them
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I like to eat them alone or mixed with cereal.
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I like the arils in a broccoli salad or mixed into any salad really; also like them in a yogurt parfait or just plain as a snack.
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Our family drinks pomegranate juice every day, but we love to add the seeds to our morning cereal, also.
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My whole family loves Pomengranted. I make jelly using POM juice! They are especially good on home-made scones.
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Noelle replied: — January 20th, 2013 @ 4:22 PM
Ooh, that sounds really good!
I LOVE them in my oatmeal! <3
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For some reason I eat them with my fingers, which is kind of messy but then I have them longer than if I were scooping them up with a spoon.
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I like the arils in plain Greek yogurt. Yummy!
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I love them on a salad!
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Absolutely gorgeous Katie!! I am dying to get some POM now!
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Taking them all out, putting them in a bowl and eating them with a spoon!
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I like to eat them by the handful! <3
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I love the idea of replacing tomatoes with pomegranates! i just started juicing them with carrots and apples. but my favorite way to eat pomegranates is in salad with roasted chestnuts, feta, and spinach (perfect winter salad)!
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Just by itself
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I love them all by themselves.
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I like to dring the juice.
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I like them on salads or in oatmeal.
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I love mixing them in to fruit salad with melon,kiwi, and grapes.
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I have only tried the juice, never the fruit itself.
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the only way I’ve had them is plain….
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I love them by themselves and tossed in a salad
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Katie – Happy 2013! This photo is gorgeous and the salad sounds fabulous!
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One of my favorite fruits! I like to eat them out of hand.
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Au naturel!
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I remember a rich braise of chicken and pomegranate sauce I once had in a Persian restaurant. The waiter’s eyes were deep brown and mischievous…
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Up until now, I just liked to eat them by then handful. this salsa recipe might be my new favorite way!
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Fresh arils atop yogurt.
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Wow, I’m pretty new to Pomegranates, besides drinking the juice. I am looking for new ways to use them, and I can’t wait to try this salsa recipe. It looks like a wonderful Winter treat!
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I love them mixed into guacamole!
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Delicious!! Everyone who ate it yesterday LOVED it!
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Straight with my 5 year old!
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I love it on oatmeal!
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I eat them with greek yogurt!
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My first visit to your site … beautiful recipe! Your salsa would be heavenly on fish tacos)!!! I look forward to making it exactly as you’ve written it. However, for now, I have to make two substitutions (tons of celery & a big jar of tamed jalapeño slices (in my fridge that need to be used up) instead of cucumber & fresh jalapeño). Hmmm … I was going to try a naan flatbread recipe tonight to go with rotisserie chicken leftovers & spinach for wrapping … this salsa may be yummy with it.
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How do I eat pom: plain from a bowl with a spoon after getting them out of the fruit, in spinach salad with chopped pecans or almonds (similar to my strawberry spinach salad) or tossed in roast veggies like broccoli with chopped nuts & a little honey. I juice or make smoothies at least 4 days a week; but, I just don’t have the heart to do that to my pom … I MUST take the seeds out by hand & eat them whole … SO yummy.
Pomegranate is likely delicious with poultry (like the tartness of cranberry sauce with turkey at Thanksgiving). We’ll see tonight.
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