If you’ve ever cracked open a pomegranate, you know just how many seeds it’s capable of holding. There appear to be hundreds. And that’s exactly why pomegranates are eaten on the second night of Rosh Hashanah.
In addition to serving the role of “new fruit,” pomegranates are believed to contain 613 seeds, which is also the number of mitzvot (commandments) in the Torah. To eat pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah is to acknowledge our desire to fulfill all of God’s commandments.
Sprinkling the seeds over a green salad is an easy way to incorporate the fruit into your meal. But why not save them for dessert? Reducing some pomegranate juice concentrates the flavor and gives this ice cream a fruity finish, and getting some seeds into the mix lends it that appealing pomegranate burst.
Pomegranate Ice Cream
Makes about 1 quart
14 ounces pomegranate juice
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
¾ cup sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
6 large egg yolks
1¾ cups heavy cream
½ cup pomegranate seeds
1. Simmer 5 ounces of pomegranate juice in small saucepan over medium-low heat until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl, add to remaining 9 ounces pomegranate juice, and stir in lime juice.
2. Place fine-mesh strainer over medium bowl. Prepare ice bath in large bowl.
3. Whisk together sugar, salt and egg yolks in medium saucepan. Whisk in cream and cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat until mixture registers 180 degrees.
4. Pour custard through strainer set over medium bowl. Whisk in pomegranate juice mixture, and set in ice bath. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours.
5. Transfer to ice cream maker. Freeze in ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Once ice cream starts to thicken, add pomegranate seeds. Transfer to glass or plastic container, press plastic wrap or waxed paper against surface of ice cream, and cover with tight-fitting lid. Freeze until firm, at least 8 hours and preferably 24 hours. Ice cream will keep, frozen, up to 5 days.
