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Glass of pomegranate juice made at home without a juicer, next to a halved pomegranate with its crown still on and another half behind it, on a wooden board in soft daylight.

Fresh Pomegranate Juice

Fresh pomegranate juice made at home without a juicer: deseed the pomegranates in a bowl of water, pulse the arils briefly in a blender and strain. Sweet-tart, ruby red and ready in 15 minutes, with an optional sparkling pomegranate fizz.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Choose Serving Size 2 glasses

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Blender
  • Fine-mesh sieve

Ingredients 

Pomegranate juice

  • 2 pomegranates large, about 2 lb (1 kg)
  • 1 tsp lime juice optional
  • 1 tsp maple syrup optional

Pomegranate fizz (optional)

  • 1 ½ cups sparkling water chilled
  • 8 cubes ice
  • 1 lime cut into wedges
  • 2 sprigs rosemary fresh, optional

Instructions

  • Fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut each pomegranate in half across the middle.
  • Hold one half under the water, cut side down, and break it apart with your fingers, pushing the arils out with your thumbs. The arils sink and the white pith floats. Repeat with the other halves.
  • Skim off the pith, then drain the arils in a colander. You should have about 2 1/2 cups.
  • Put the arils in a blender and pulse 3 or 4 times, 1 to 2 seconds each, just until they burst. Do not blend longer, or the seeds will break and make the juice bitter.
  • Pour into a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and press the pulp with the back of a spoon. For a clearer juice, strain it again through a nut milk bag.
  • Taste and stir in the lime juice and maple syrup, if you like. Serve right away.
  • For the fizz (optional), put the ice in 2 glasses, fill them halfway with pomegranate juice, top with sparkling water, squeeze in a lime wedge and add a rosemary sprig.

Notes

No blender: press the pomegranate halves in a lever citrus press and stop before you squeeze the peel, or crush the arils in a sealed freezer bag with a rolling pin and pour the juice through a sieve. One large pomegranate gives about 2/3 cup (150 to 180 ml) of juice, depending on the variety. Keeps up to 3 days in a closed glass jar in the fridge, or 3 months frozen in ice cube trays. Wear an apron: pomegranate juice stains. For adults, use prosecco instead of sparkling water. Nutrition is for the juice only, without the fizz.