Pomegranate Molasses Is Sweet, Tart, and Versatile—Here’s How to Use It

Martha Stewart 

Like the wondrous Persian-born fruit it's derived from, pomegranate molasses is an ingredient with culinary superpowers. As for how to use pomegranate molasses, it's a game changer that goes the gamut, punching up appetizers, mains, desserts, and drinks, with each spoonful. To discover more about this versatile condiment, we turned to Middle Eastern cuisine experts, who shared their favorite applications, as well as tips for making your own.

What Is Pomegranate Molasses?

Also known as pomegranate syrup, pomegranate molasses is a rich, complex concentrate. "Pomegranate molasses is normally made from just pomegranate juice that has been reduced down to a glaze consistency," explains Edy Massih, author of the Lebanese cookbook, Keep It Zesty. and the chef and owner of Edy's Grocer in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a Lebanese market and deli that stocks pomegranate molasses among its Middle Eastern comestibles.

Variations: Some brands add sugar and lemon juice to the thick, tangy syrup, or temper the sourness with date syrup.

Taste and consistency: Unadulterated or not, the result is deliciously distinctive. "The flavor is intensely tart with subtle sweetness, offering a vibrant acidity that really wakes up a dish," says Eli "Buli" Buliskeria, executive chef at Mesiba, a Tel Avivian-inspired restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. "It has a deep ruby color and a rich, slightly sticky texture."

Read the full article here.