Winter tabbouleh with roasted vegetables

For ➍

1 cauliflower

½ pumpkin

4 handfuls of rocket

200 g cooked chickpeas

200 g wheat semolina

120 g feta* or 20 falafels

4 tbs olive oil

4 ts ground garlic, paprika, cumin

sauce*:

3 tbs olive oil

1 tbs honey

1 tbs mustard

1 lemon, juiced

1 clove crushed garlic

finishing:

pomegranate

coriander

Preheat the oven to 200°C

In the meantime, cut the cauliflower and pumpkin into pieces of about 2 cm. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.

Divide the cauliflower and pumpkin pieces on a plate and brush them with half of the herbs and olive oil.

Do the same with the chickpeas on a second plate.

[Or spread everything out on a large baking tray].

Bake everything for 40 m.

Cook the wheat semolina with boiling water.

Prepare the sauce. Mix the olive oil, honey, mustard, lemon juice and the crushed garlic clove in a bowl.

Prepare the winter tabouleh by combining the rocket, semolina and roasted vegetables. Drizzle with the sauce, sprinkle with crumbled feta or add the falafels and mix again. If desired, finish with fresh pomegranate and coriander. Serve warm.

The tabouleh salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

*Double the quantity of sauce for more taste.

Za'atar chicken pilav with pistachios & pomegranate

For ➍

4 chicken legs

2 cloves garlic

1 tbs lemon juice

3 tbs za'atar

70 g pomegranate seeds

1 bunch flat leaf parsley

1 bunch of dill

4 tbs olive oil

50 g butter

2 large yellow onions

250 g basmati rice

40 cl poultry fond

75 g green pistachios

1 ts pilipili

1 bunch coriander

Peel the garlic and finely chop.

Cut the chicken thighs in half at the joint and place in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1 tbs salt and the garlic snippets. Toss together and refrigerate for min. 2 h.

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

Bake the chicken ± 7 m with the skin side down golden brown and crispy in a roasting pan.

Arrange in a baking dish, sprinkle the skin side with za'atar and roast for another 10 m.

Deglaze the casserole with poultry stock and heat.

Peel the onions and cut into fine half rings. Coarsely chop the pistachios.

Rinse the rice under running water until the rinse water is clear. Preheat the butter and oil in a shallow wide cast iron pot. Add the onion rings, sprinkle with salt and fry for 15 m until caramelised. Stir in the rice, pistachios, pilipili and warm poultry stock. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken on top of the rice. Pour the juices from the baking dish over.

Place in the oven for 45 m until the rice is soft. Cover the pan and let rest for 5 m.

Finely chop the parsley leaves, coarsely chop the coriander and dill and sprinkle over the chicken together with the pomegranate seeds. Serve.

Grilled aubergine with pomegranate & pistachio

For ➍
3 eggplants
¼ ts turmeric
1 tbs garam masala
peanut oil
3 tbs pistachios
1 bunch coriander
1 bunch mint
1 pomegranate
2 shallots
1 clove garlic
1 tbs sugar cubes*
3 tbs white wine vinegar
1 tsp pilipili

Peel the garlic and shallots. Chop finely.
Chop the coriander and mint leaves until you have 1 tbs of each.
Remove the seeds from the pomegranate.
Place a saucepan over medium heat and add the shallots, garlic, sugar, vinegar, pilipili and 3 tbs water.
Boil for 1 m, remove from heat and allow to cool.
Stir in the chopped coriander, mint and 3 tbsp pomegranate seeds.
Rinse the salt from the aubergines and pat them dry.
Mix 3 tbs oil with the garam masala and turmeric into a paste and brush the aubergine slices with it.
Heat the grill pan and fry them on both sides in beautiful, black lines.
Arrange them in a baking dish. Sprinkle with oil and continue cooking until the aubergines are soft.
Arrange the slices on a serving dish and spoon the dressing over it.
Garnish with the rest of the pomegranate seeds, mint leaves and coriander.
Sprinkle with pistachios and serve.
Serve as an opener or as a side dish at e.g. grilled lamb crown.

* Replace if necessary by honey. Or replace the wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar for a sweeter taste.

Soy salmon & lime tacos

For ➍
4 salmon fillets
3 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs sunflower oil
2 tbs sesame seeds
juice ½ lime
salt & pepper
pinch of garlic salt
easy guacamole:
2 avocados
½ lime
½ lemon
salt & pepper
fresh chilli (optional)
mango & watermelon salsa:
1 mango
¼ small watermelon
¼ red onion
few sprigs of parsley leaves
1 ts honey
garnish:
3 tbs pomegranate seeds
5 tbs sour cream & chives dip
2 radishes
3 tbs dried crispy onions

Place the salmon on a baking tray lined with foil or baking paper and pour over a few glugs of sunflower oil, 2 tbs of soy sauce, a handful of sesame seeds, garlic salt, pepper and a squeeze of half a lime. Making sure both sides are coated with the sauce, bake skin-side down for 20 m until the flakes come away with a fork easily.
Whilst the salmon cooks in the oven, prepare your accompanying ingredients.
-(Guacamole) Halve and stone 2 avocados and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Mash with a pinch of salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and lime and some chilli, if desired.
-(Salsa) Finely dice parsley, mango, watermelon and red onion for the salsa. Squeeze some lime and a tiny drizzle of honey and mix well.
Place small soft flour tortillas on a dry hot pan for 30 s to warm through.
Assemble salmon taco with guacamole and pomegranate seeds: spread guacamole over the base of the taco spoon over some of the salsa and add some salmon flakes on top. To garnish sprinkle some pomegranate seeds and some chopped parsley.
Assemble salmon taco with sour cream and chives: start with sour cream and chives spread over the taco base, spoon over the salsa and layer salmon flakes. Add thinly sliced radishes and garnish with some chopped parsley.
Serve with corn on the cob cut up into pieces, and quartered fresh limes.

♥︎Cod with fennel & orange salad

For ➍
800 g cod fillets
4 tbs olive oil
2 lemons
juice of 2 oranges for juice
1 orange in parts
150 g blueberries
20 g fresh dill
2 fennel bulbs, finely cut
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
200 g soft white cheese
1 red onion
1 tbs red wine vinegar
1 pomegranate
pepper & salt

Place the fish in an oven dish. Add the olive oil, the lemon juice and some pepper and salt.
Bake the fish on the BBQ or in an oven at 180°C for 15 m.
Add the orange juice, the orange segments, the blueberries and the fresh dill to the finely cut slices of fennel. Add pepper and salt, mix and let rest.
Add the finely chopped garlic and olive oil to the flat cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix the red wine vinegar with the finely chopped red onion slices.
Take a plate, first place the fennel salad, then a piece of fish, a round spoon of soft cheese, the marinated red onion and some pomegranate on top.

Spiced lamb with pomegranate salad

For ➋
1 garlic clove
a pinch coarse sea salt
1 ts black peppercorns
1 ts coriander seeds
1 ts smoked paprika
a drizzle of olive oil
2 lamb steaks
pomegranate salad

Crush the garlic with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the black peppercorns, coriander seeds and paprika. Add 2 tbs of olive oil, till you have a rough, loose paste. Baste the lamb steaks with the spice mix then set aside for at least 15 m, longer if you can.
Lay the steaks on a hot barbecue to ensure a charred crust and leave to cook for approximately 10 m, turning them occasionally.
When the lamb is cooked, season generously with some coarse sea salt and serve with the  pomegranate & cucumber salad.

*Or try a slow cooking recipe.

Pomegranate & cucumber salad

For ➋
1 whole cucumber
seeds from ½ pomegranate
a few sprigs mint

Chop the cucumber into neatish chunks and put in a serving bowl. Remove the seeds from half a pomegranate, avoiding any of the white pith. Scatter over the cucumber. Finally tear over the cooling mint and toss together.
Serve wth grilled or marinated lamb or chicken

More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & quinoa salad, Friuli winter salad, pomegranate fruit salad

Tabbouleh

For ➍
15 g medium bulgur wheat (optional)
30 g fine bulgur wheat (*)
400 g ripe tomatoes
6 spring onions
2 lemons, juice only
½ ts ground black pepper
½ ts ground allspice
½ ts ground cinnamon
½ ts ground coriander
¼ ts ground nutmeg
¼ ts ground cloves
¼ ts ground ginger
175 g flat-leaf parsley
45 g mint
5 tbs olive oil
2 tbs pomegranate arils (optional)

Preheat the oven to 140°C if using the medium bulgur wheat. Rinse the fine bulgur wheat in cold water until the water runs clear, then drain well in a sieve and put in a bowl. Fluff up with a fork.
Rinse the medium bulgur, if using, in boiling water, drain well, spread out on a baking tray and put in the oven for 20 m. Fluff up with a fork when done.
Meanwhile, finely chop the tomatoes and finely slice the spring onions and add both, plus juices, to the wheat. Add the juice of 1½ lemons. Mix the spices together well, and add 1 ts to the bowl.
Douse the herbs in cold water, chop most of the stalks off the parsley, and then take a small bunch, gather together on the board and slice it as finely as you can. Repeat with the rest. Pick the leaves from the mint and do the same, being as gentle as possible.
Add the herbs to the bowl along with the oil, season and toss well. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice or spice mix to taste.
Scatter with the pomegranate and toasted bulgur, if using, just before serving.

*Use couscous instead. Adapt cooking method.

Tomato & pomegranate salad

For ➍
200 g red cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g yellow cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g tiger (or plum) tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
4 medium vine tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice (500 g net)
1 red pepper, cut into ½ cm dice (120 g net)
1 small red onion, finely diced (120 g net)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ ts ground allspice
2 ts white wine vinegar
1½ tbs pomegranate molasses
6 cl olive oil, plus a little extra to drizzle at the end
1 pomegranate, seeds removed (170g of seeds)
1 tbs picked small oregano leaves, to garnish
salt & black pepper

In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, red pepper and onion and set aside.
In a small bowl whisk the garlic, allspice, vinegar, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and ⅓ teaspoon of salt, until well combined. Pour this over the tomatoes and gently mix.
Arrange the tomatoes and the juices on a large flat plate. Sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds and oregano.
Finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

*Serve as a side dish for grilled lamb.

♥︎Moroccan fennel & orange salad

for ➋
1 large fennel bulb, sliced​​, stem too
2 oranges, sliced
bunch radishes, sliced​​
a few mint leaves
seeds of 1 pomegranate
dressing:
3 tbs olive oil
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs orange juice
1 tbs orange blossom water
1 ts powdered sugar
1 ts ground cinnamon
some chopped mint leaves

Lay sliced ​​fennel in a circle at the edge of a large scale, put the slices of orange like roof tiles on fennel. Put the slices of radish and the mint leaves to the middle. Finally sprinkle the pomegranate seeds in the middle and along the outer edge.
Mix all other ingredients for the dressing. Sprinkle over the salad.
Put in the refrigerator for 30 m before serving.

Warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint

For ➏
1 kg lamb (evt. boneless), at room temperature
1 onion, sliced
1 carrot, sliced
6 cloves of garlic
5 dl water
1 pomegranate
fresh mint leaves

This dish will take 6 h of slow cooking in the oven. Preheat the oven to 160°C.
Heat a large pan, suitable for the oven. When hot, brown the meat, fat side down.
Turn the meat over, add the onion, carrot and garlic cloves.
Pour water in the pan, cover with alumin foil and you put it in the oven.
After 6 h, the meat will be tender and falling apart.
Slice the meat and put it in a nice bowl.
Cut the pomegranate in half, give it a few good taps on and the seeds will drop out. Sprinkle with the torn mint leaves.
Serve with Turkish bread with hummus.

*Or try a more classic approach with grilled lamb.

More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, pomegranate & cucumber salad, pomegranate & quinoa salad, Friuli winter salad, pomegranate fruit salad

Quinoa, herb & pomegranate salad

For ➋
150 g quinoa
½ vegetable stock cube
75 g pine nuts
1 pomegranate, seeds removed (or chopped dried apricots)
a small handful mint, chopped
a small handful coriander, chopped
juice of 1 lime
extra-virgin olive oil or walnut oil

Cook the quinoa, adding the vegetable stock cube to the cooking water. Leave to cool, then break up with a fork.
Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a dry frying pan until lightly golden. Mix the pine nuts, pomegranate seeds, herbs, lime juice and 4 tbs oil through the quinoa.
(Add some shredded cooked chicken.)

More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & cucumber salad, Friuli winter salad, pomegranate fruit salad

Tomato & pomegranate salad with garlic dressing

For ➍
200 g red cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g yellow cherry tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
200 g tiger (or plum) tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice
4 medium vine tomatoes, cut into ½ cm dice (500 g net)
1 red pepper, cut into ½ cm dice (120 g net)
1 small red onion, finely diced (120 g net)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ ts ground allspice
2 ts white wine vinegar
1½ tbs pomegranate molasses
6 cl olive oil, plus a little extra to drizzle at the end
1 pomegranate, seeds removed (170 g of seeds)
1 tbs picked small oregano leaves, to garnish
salt & black pepper

In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, red pepper and onion and set aside.
In a small bowl whisk the garlic, allspice, vinegar, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, and ⅓ ts of salt, until well combined. Pour this over the tomatoes and gently mix.
Arrange the tomatoes and the juices on a large flat plate. Sprinkle over the pomegranate seeds and oregano and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.

More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & cucumber salad, pomegranate & quinoa salad, Friuli winter salad, pomegranate fruit salad

Pomegranate, endives & feta salad

For ➍
3 stalks of Brussels endive or/& radicchio
1 large pomegranate
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 tbs raspberry vinegar (or regular red vinegar)
a handful of mint leaves
150 g good feta cheese, crumbled
salt & pepper

Remove the seeds from the pomegranate.
Mix the pomegranate seeds with the chopped onion and the raspberry vinegar and let the flavors soak for about 15 m.
Break the endive leaves and radicchio leaves apart and arrange on a large plate or in a salad bowl. Add the pomegranate mixture, add the mint leaves and the feta and top with some mint leaves.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.

More pomegranate salads: pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & cucumber salad, pomegranate & quinoa salad, Friuli winter salad, pomegranate fruit salad

Pomegranate & grapefruit salad

For ➍
1 pomegranate
2 grapefruits
lettuce
dressing:
4 tbs olive oil
2 tbs vinegar
1 tbs honey
½ tbs lemon juice
½ ts onion, grated
salt, sugar
⅛ ts mustard power

Tear the lettuce into leaves. Dress 4 plates.
Clean the grapefruits. Divide into parts. Make a crown on each plate.
Fill the crown with pomegranate seeds.
Mix remaining ingredients into a dressing. Drip over the salad.

It might have been the original apple Eve was tempted to sink her teeth into (understandably). From its native Persia, the pomegranate spread to China, was brought by the Phoenicians to Carthage, where the Romans picked it up. The Moors brought the fruit to Spain round 800 A.D. and named Granada, one of their major cities after it
The acid fruit was not only appreciated for its red seeds, the skin was also used to colour leather.
The French army named a hand-tossed explosive a grenade after the seed-scattering properties of the pomegranate fruit.
Be careful when peeling and handling the fruit: the red juice stains are very difficult to remove.
More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & cucumber salad, pomegranate & quinoa salad, Friuli winter salad.

Friuli winter salad

For ➍, ➏ as a starter
230 g (green) leaves, a mixture of radicchio*, watercress & endives
150 g speck or raw bacon in 1 piece
150 g spicy Italian sausage
125 g cooked chestnuts
1½ tbs groundnut oil
30 g toasted walnuts
seeds from ½ pomegranate**
dressing:
½ tbs balsamic vinegar
4 tbs extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper

Cut the speck into cubes, about 2 cm square. Take the skin off the sausages. Break the sausage meat up into little chunks. Cut the chestnuts in half. (When already broken into chunks, leave them alone.)
Make the dressing by mixing all the ingredients together. Tear the radicchio leaves into pieces and pull the leaves off the endives. Put them into a broad shallow bowl.
Heat 1 tbs oil in a frying pan and cook the speck and sausage over a high heat until well coloured and cooked through. Throw this onto the leaves.
Heat the remaining ½ tbs oil and quickly sauté the chestnuts until they are hot. Season with salt and pepper.
Throw them, and the walnuts onto the leaves. Add the dressing and toss.
Sprinkle the pomegranate* seeds over the top and serve immediately.

*Replace with (purple) endives.
**Pomegranate seeds can be replaced by a fried egg.

The (Süd-Tiroler) speck is a juniper-flavored ham from the Tyrol region, now split between Italy and Austria. Speck bears both the tradition of Mediterranean salt curing and central European smoking.
Read more Friuli recipes: Friuli cherries' strudel, Trieste beef stew.
More pomegranate salads: pomegranate,endives & feta, pomegranate, tomatoes & garlic, warm lamb salad with pomegranate & mint, pomegranate & cucumber salad, pomegranate & quinoa salad, pomegranate fruit salad