Chia Pudding with Pomegranate Seeds - How to Clean A Pomegranate

This whole pomegranate yielded about 1 1/2 cups of seeds.

Slice off the top of the pomegranate with a sharp knife.

Score pomegranate rind in four sections .

Break into pieces under water and separate seeds from pith.

Seeds will sink to the bottom and white pith will float to the top.

Skim rind and white pith from top of water and drain seeds.

Pomegranates

Nothing is prettier than bright red pomegranate seeds garnishing desserts, salads and other dishes. Especially during the holidays. But these seeds aren't only beautiful, they are packed with antioxidants that protect against the harmful damage of "free radicals". They are high in vitamins C and K and are also a good source of folate and fiber. You get the most fiber and nutrients if you eat the seeds whole but you can also run them through a juicer.

How to Clean

The first time I saw one of these things I had no idea what to do with it. I busted it open and seeds flew all over the place. I didn't buy another one for quite some time. But I couldn't ignore the health benefits and the delicious taste of these little bright red seeds so I decided to try it again. After searching the internet, I found out the secret is to clean the little guy under water. First slice off the top, score the rind in 4 quadrants and break the pomegranate apart over a bowl filled with water. Submerge the broken fruit and start separating the seeds from the white pith with your fingers. They will immediately sink to the bottom and the pith and rind will float to the top. Skim off the pith and rind and drain the seeds. This fat pomegranate yielded about 1 1/2 cups of seeds.

A Festive and VERY Healthy Dessert

The little red seeds make any dessert look festive. Mixed with chia pudding made with hemp milk also makes this one of the healthiest desserts you can eat. Hemp milk and chia seeds are two of the best vegan sources of ALA omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 is known to support heart health, reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, prevent depression and reduce joint pain. Each serving of this recipe provides 3.6 grams of omega 3. That's practically all a healthy vegan would need for their own bodies to produce enough of the beneficial DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids (typically found in fish) needed for one day. This recipe is also very low in calories and provides over 25% of your daily requirement of fiber.

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Chia Pudding with Pomegranate Seeds [serves 4]

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

2 cups (sweetened) Living Harvest vanilla Hemp Milk*

6 or 8 drops of liquid stevia for added sweetness (optional)

5 tablespoons raw chia seeds

* for a totally "raw" dessert, just add pomegranate seeds to my Amazing Chia Pudding recipe made from soaked cashews and dates.

Combine chia seeds with hemp milk and liquid stevia and stir vigorously with a fork for several minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes and stir again until the chia seeds are well blended and separated. Let the mixture sit out for an hour and stir one more time. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight until thickened and firm. I always make this a day ahead in order to give it time to set. Serve in four bowls each topped with 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds or in one large bowl with the pomegranate seeds in a separate small serving bowl.

Per serving: 123 calories, 8.3 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 3.8 g protein, 20.3 g carbohydrates, 7.0 g fiber and 3.6 g omega 3 and 2.9 g omega 6 fatty acids.