Recipes

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 pound ground lamb
4 cloves garlic, chopped fine
¼ cup red onion, chopped super fine
½ cup fresh mint, chopped fine
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup Kashi Whole Grain Nuggets or Grape Nuts (substitute with breadcrumbs)
2 eggs, beaten
Pita Bread
¼ cup fresh pomegranate seeds

For the Yogurt Sauce

2 cups plain Greek yogurt
½ cup fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

To assemble the meatballs, combine all ingredients except the eggs. Use hands to mix well, making sure all ingredients and spiced are all combined. Form into 1-inch balls. Lamb meatballs can be either grilled over medium-high heat (turning until browned on all sides) or baked in 375°F oven for approximately 30 minutes, rolling a few times to make sure they are browned on all sides.
To make the yogurt sauce, combine all ingredients in a blender or use a hand held processor, and blend until smooth.
Serve meatballs in pita with yogurt and garnished with pomegranate seeds.

In a glass filled with ice mix 1 ounce of pomegranate black pepper molasses with 2 ounces fresh pomegranate juice and gill with seltzer and stir!

Pomegranate Black Pepper Molasses

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

5 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Cool and strain.

Ingredients

Pomegranate Black Pepper Molasses (recipe follows)
Sparkling wine
Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Directions

Pour one ounce of pomegranate black pepper molasses in a champagne glass and fill with champagne. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds.

Pomegranate Black Pepper Molasses

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

5 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

Directions

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to reduce by half or about 45 minutes. Allow to cool and strain.

Serves 6

Ingredients

Directions

Preheat broiler to High. Arrange the baby lamp chops on a sheet pan or in a baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and rub with mint oil on both sides. Place in the broiler and broil for about 3 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.

Preserved Lemon-Mint Chili Chimichurri

Ingredients

1 to 2 cloves garlic
¼- ½ cup preserved lemons
1 cup fresh parsley leaves
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1 long red chili, deseeded and chopped
â…“ cup champagne vinegar
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Cucumber Pomegranate Salsa

Makes approximately 2 cups

Ingredients

Directions

In a medium bowl mix together cucumber, pomegranate seeds, red onion, mint and lemon zest, until well combined. Drizzle lemon juice, oil and vinegar over the top and mix again until dressing is incorporated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 6-9 (makes 6-9 sausages)

INGREDIENTS

For the Sausage

2 pounds lamb, cubed into ½-inch cubes
½ pound pork fat or lamb fat
3 cloves garlic, chopped fine
¼ cup red wine
¹⁄₃ cup fresh mint leaves
¹⁄₃ cup feta cheese, crumbled and par frozen
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
¹⁄₃ cup pomegranate seeds, frozen
Casings of your choice

For the Salad

6-7 cups, mesclun mix or baby greens
9 figs, quartered
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped

PREPARATION

For the Sausage

Mix all ingredients for sausage in a large bowl (except frozen pomegranate seeds) very well, and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Using the finest blade for the meat grinder, grind the mixture following grinder instructions. Mix in pomegranate seeds, and combine well. If you are making or using the meat without the casings, go right to that step. If you are making links, put the mixture back in the mixing bowl, and place in the freezer for a little while. Meanwhile, soak the casings in warm water, and rinse a few times. Using your sausage stuffer, slip the casing onto the stuffing tube, making sure you leave about 6 inches off the end of the tube- this is where you will need to tie the sausages off later. Remove the meat from the freezer, and place it in the body of the sausage stuffing machine. If all the meat does not fit (you must acquit, just kidding), place the rest back in the refrigerator until you are ready. Turn the machine on, and begin the process- air will be the first thing to emerge. As the meat begins to slide out, use one hand to maneuver the speed of the sausage output. Let the sausage emerge into one long coil- the links will be tied later in the process. When the sausage is done, turn off the machine, and tie up the ends- you can use meat or butchers twine. To make individual links, pinch a section together, then spin the links, and turn them opposite from each other several times; repeat this moving down the entire main link. Hang the links up so you can review for air bubbles. Using a sterilized pin or sewing needle, pop each section that has an air bubble with the pin, and the link should move flat and the air bubble should be released. Hang the links for about an hour, and then refrigerate them covered in the refrigerator overnight. Use them or freeze them within about a week.

For the Salad

In a grill pan, over medium-high heat, add lamb sausage, and cook until desired doneness.
Once cooked, remove, and allow to rest.

On a large platter, place salad greens, figs, pomegranate seeds, and cooked sausage. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, sugar, and lemon juice. Drizzle over salad platter. Sprinkle with chopped mint leaves, and serve.

Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS

1 medium eggplant, sliced into 1 inch sliced of the whole eggplant
Salt
½ cup pomegranate syrup
½ cup feta cubed into bite size pieces
½ cup fresh mint leaves torn into little bits

PREPARATION

Prepare a grill to medium heat. Sprinkle eggplant with salt and brush with pomegranates syrup. Grill on both sides until the eggplant has grill marks and it tender, about 3 minutes each side, brushing with pomegranate syrup as you grill. Take off grill and sprinkle feta and mint on and serve!

Pomegranate Syrup

Makes 2 cups.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar
¼ cup lemon juice

PREPARATION

In a medium heavy bottom sauce pan, combine juices and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer on a low heat until the sugar has all dissolved and the mixture makes thick syrup.

Makes 3 cups.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh pomegranate juice
2 cups fresh tangerine juice, pulp included
½ cup honey

PREPARATION

Whisk together honey and about ½ cup of the tangerine juice until honey is dissolved, add remaining juice. Pour into a metal pan with sides and allow to freeze, scraping with a fork occasionally. To serve scrape with fork. Garnish with fresh pomegranates seeds.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

8 small lamb chops
Salt/pepper
¼ cup orange juice
¼ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 tiny pinch of red chili flakes
2 medium oranges, segmented and chopped coarsely
½ cup pomegranate seeds
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped fine
Couple of pinches of salt & pepper

PREPARATION

Prepare grill and place salt and pepper on lamb chops, let set while grill heats up. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together orange juice, lemon juice, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, honey, chili flakes and oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in oranges, pomegranates and mint and mix well, let stand for 20 minutes room temparature before serving. Grill lamb chops on each side for a few minutes until desired texture, medium rare is more preferred. Serve with the salsa spooned on top of the grilled lamb chops.

Excellent accompanied by herbed bulgar pilaf.

Makes 30 mini meatballs

INGREDIENTS

½ small onion, finely chopped
½ tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ cup shelled pistachios, finely chopped
½ tablespoon cumin
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
1 tablespoon salt
½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
½ lb ground lamb
¼ cup fresh tarragon, roughly chopped
½ lb ground turkey
½ tablespoon lemon juice
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ tablespoon black pepper
Pomegranate sauce, recipe below

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 450ËšFand line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and form into small meatballs. Place meatballs on baking sheets and bake for 8 minutes or until meat is fully cooked. Serve immediately with pomegranate sauce.

Pomegranate Sauce

INGREDIENTS

¾ cups pomegranate molasses
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup honey
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Pinot Noir wine
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

PREPARATION

In a small saucepot over medium heat, combine all ingredients and reduce by half. Sauce should be thick, but still pourable.

© Recipe courtesy of Rafael Hasid, Miriam Restaurant

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

2 apples, cored, sliced into ½ inch wedges
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, chopped

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 350ËšF degrees

Place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir well, coating apple wedges with honey and oregano. 

Wrap and bake for 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

3 peeled and chopped Fuyu persimmons
¾ cup of pomegranate seeds
1 peeled, cored, and chopped apple, preferably a Granny Smith or Fuji
10 slices of fresh mint leaves
1 tsp of honey
2 tsp of lemon juice

PREPARATION

Gently toss together the following: three peeled and chopped Fuyu persimmons, ¾ cup of pomegranate seeds, one peeled, cored, and chopped apple, preferably a Granny Smith or Fuji, about ten slices of fresh mint leaves, 1 tsp of honey and 2 tsp of lemon juice. Serve alone, or try a lemon sorbet or freshly made crepes sprinkled with sugar.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups of washed rocolla (or arugula)
1 medium fennel bulb sliced thin
2 peeled and segmented Satsumas
¼ cup of pomegranate seeds
the juice and zest of two lemons
¼ cup of fresh pomegranate juice
¼ cup of olive oil
salt and pepper

PREPARATION

In a large bowl mix three cups of washed rocolla (or arugula), one medium fennel bulb sliced thin, two peeled and segmented Satsumas and ¼ cup of pomegranate seeds. In a separate small bowl mix the juice and zest of two lemons, ¼ cup of fresh pomegranate juice, ¼ cup of olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix together with salad.