Pomegranate molasses is a common ingredient used in Middle Eastern and North African cuisines. It’s often added to savory dishes to add a bit of sweetness and tangy flavor. The first few times I came across pomegranate molasses was through Yotam Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem and Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day. I was amazed by the transformative powers of pomegranate molasses, how it can add a bit of zing to roasts and muhammara.
Pomegranate molasses is not the easiest ingredient to find in grocery stores, which is why I prefer making it myself with pomegranate juice that I can just get at grocery stores.
HOW TO MAKE POMEGRANATE MOLASSES
It’s actually quite easy to make. All you do is boil down pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice for about 1 hour, and that’s it. You can use store-bought pomegranate juice to make the molasses. I prefer using fresh pomegranate juice because the color of the molasses will look much brighter (and better for photographs).
To juice the pomegranate, we’re going to dig into those ruby globes and separate the arils. Find the crown of the pomegranate (the part that’s sticking out). (Did you know that the crown is actually the bottom of the pomegranate?) Holding the paring knife at a diagonal, start cutting underneath the crown. Make a full circle around the crown and remove it. Score the pomegranate.
Tear the pomegranate apart into different sections. Remove the arils by prying them loose from the rind. To prevent pomegranate juice from splattering everywhere (because it will), loosen the arils inside a large bowl filled with water.
When you’re done, you’ll notice that most of the seeds have sunken to the bottom of the bowl and the loose membrane will float on the top. Remove any stray pieces of membrane, and drain all the water.
Pour the arils into a high-speed blender or food processor, and pulse or gently blend until all the arils have been crushed.
Strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spatula to press down on the purée so that you can squeeze out as much juice as possible.
Right, we now have pomegranate juice. On to making the molasses!
TIPS FOR POMEGRANATE MOLASSES RECIPE
- You can overcook the molasses: When I was making the video for this, I wasn’t keeping an eye on the molasses carefully and overcooked it. The molasses turned from a beautiful magenta color to brown. Once the molasses cooled, I ended up with a very thick and stiff substance that was very difficult to remove from the jar and difficult to work with. I ended up throwing it all away. The last 10 to 15 minutes of the cooking process are the most critical. You may need to reduce the heat slightly.
- How to tell when the molasses is done: After an hour, you’ll notice that the bubbles will start to look thicker at more viscous. That’s a good sign. You want the molasses to be able to coat the back of a spoon (see below). I also like to pour the molasses into a glass measuring jar to see how much liquids I have. Once I’ve boiled everything down to a little over a cup, I’ll stop. This recipe should yield 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of molasses.
RECIPES USING POMEGRANATE MOLASSES
How To Make Pomegranate Molasses
Ingredients
- 4 cups pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, about one large lemon
Instructions
- Boil the pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat. When the juice boils, reduce the heat to a medium-low. You should see the liquid boiling very gently in the middle.
- Let the mixture simmer for about an hour, uncovered. Stir occasionally to make sure that the sugars don't stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
- After 45 minutes of simmering, you'll notice that a lot of liquid has burned off. Reduce the heat very slightly and let it simmer for another 15 minutes or so. Take a spoon and dip it into the molasses. If it coats the spoon, the molasses is done cooking (see photo in blog post for a visual).
- Turn off the heat and let it cool for 30 minutes before pouring it into a jar. The mixture will still be runny, but don't worry. The molasses thickens as it cools.
- This recipe should yield about 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of pomegranate molasses. Store the molasses in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Notes
- If you are making fresh pomegranate juice, you'll need 6 to 7 large pomegranates to yield 9 cups of arils. Find the crown of the pomegranate (the part that's sticking out). With a paring knife, dig into the part underneath the crown, and make a circular incision. You're removing the crown and a bit of the skin underneath it so that the pomegranate is easier to peel later. Score the pomegranate.
- Tear the pomegranate apart into different sections. Remove the arils by prying them loose from the peel. Do this step over a medium bowl filled with water.
- When you're done, you'll notice that most of the seeds have sunken to the bottom of the bowl, and the loose membrane will float on the top. It's okay if some of the arils are floating too. Remove any stray pieces of membrane, and drain all the water.
- Pour the arils into a high-speed blender or food processor, and purée until the pomegranates look like a smoothie. You may need to do this step in batches.
- Strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spatula to press down on the purée so that you can squeeze out as much juice as possible. You should end up with 3 1/2 to 4 cups of pomegranate juice.
*Note: This recipe was originally published in 2014 and has been republished to updated photos and the headnote.
Joanne says
I’ve made my own pom molasses before but yeah..it really is SO MUCH BETTER than the one from the store. Worth it to make it yourself!
Lisa says
It really is, and it lasts for so long, too!
Jane says
How long is the molasses good in the refrigerator?
Lisa Lin says
I’ve kept it in the fridge for a month or two and it was fine. If it hardens in the fridge, just take out what you need for your recipe and microwave it for 10 seconds or so to soften it.
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
This looks wonderful! The color is gorgeous!
Lisa says
Thanks, Kelly!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
You just made my day with this recipe! I have always wanted to use Pomegranate Molasses, but never wanted to buy a whole bottle! Making it myself would be much more economical (and probably much more tasty!) Thanks Lisa!
Lisa says
I’d definitely go for the pomegranate juice if you want to save money. Fresh pomegranates do cost a bit! Let me know how it goes, Rebecca!
David Lamb says
I actually have an attachment for my KitchenAid mixer that juces the pomegranate seeds. 100 poms came out to 8 ish gallons of juice. Had to improvise a gallon jug to feed the seeds. Now on to jam and molasses.
Sharon Jewel says
store bought pomegranate molasses can be very inexpensive, depending on where you buy it. i have seen it for $2 – $3 in middle eastern grocery stores.
I am making my own right now because I could not find pomegranate molasses jn my town. An 8 oz bottle of POM was $1.98 and I have to simmer it for one hour. Lots of electricity or gas to simmer something for an hour.
It’s way more economical to buy it bottled than to make homemade, but I’m sure it will taste better homemade. I am just commenting on your saying that it is more economical to make it yourself.
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
The color of this is amazing! I have a hard time finding this at the store sometimes. Totally going to make my own now! XO
Lisa says
I also learned after making my own pomegranate molasses that it’s supposed to be a deep magenta color, not brownish…
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
I’m fascinated by this! Over the summer I made a quinoa recipe from NY Times’ Recipes for Health that called for pomegranate molasses. I only had plain old molasses and figured it wouldn’t make a difference so I have used that everytime I make the recipe. Now I feel like I’m missing out!! Your pomegranate molasses is gorgeous and looks delish. I don’t think i’m up for the time committment involved in making it though. You may just have to start bottling yours!
Lisa says
I have definitely done the same! I’ve cooked the same recipe with pomegranate molasses and molasses, and they definitely tasted different. I should totally bottle up some of this stuff for you. Early Christmas present?
Julia | Orchard Street Kitchen says
This not only looks delicious, but beautiful too! I love the color and imagine it would be a wonderful addition to many different dishes. I love pomegranates but definitely don’t eat them often enough – this is inspiring!
Lisa says
Thanks, Julia! Sometimes, I skip the pomegranates because it’s so much effort to get the arils out! I need to eat more of it myself!
Alessandra // the foodie teen says
I was JUST thinking of posting a pomegranate molasses recipe – I’ve been obsessed with it lately! Love your step-by-step photos!
Lisa says
Great minds think alike, right? Isn’t it amazing? It goes sooo well as a sauce to many dishes!
Maggie @HomeSweetJones says
This is utterly brilliant. I usually have to make a special trek to the Persian market for pomegranate molasses and not only will this be more convenient, I know it will be more delicious and healthier because it’s made from scratch. I’m going to try it next week in my Rosewater Pomegranate Chicken. Thanks for the fantastic recipe!
Lisa says
Rosewater pomegranate chicken? That sounds amazing! You should definitely post a recipe for that on your blog!
Maggie @HomeSweetJones says
I need to make it again with this molasses and update the pictures but, in the meantime…
http://www.homesweetjones.com/rosewater-pomegranate-chicken/
Lisa says
Sweet! Thanks for the link, Maggie!
kristina @ love & zest says
hello gorgeous!! love the looks of this 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Kristina!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I am in awe of you. . you made your own pomegranate juice from scratch . . . and pom molasses?! WOW! love this!!
Lisa says
Thanks, Alice! Between taking the step-by-step photos and actually making this, it definitely took me a while, but it was definitely worth it!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
What a creative recipe! I’ve never tasted pomegranate molasses, but you make it sound so decadent and delicious. I love the step by step tutorial for how to get the arils out of pomegranates – I have to admit that i have 4 pomegranates sitting in my bowl right now because I’m too afraid to even BEGIN the task of opening them. Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Sarah! I get a little lazy with pomegranates sometimes because the juice squirts out everywhere. Hopefully you can minimize some of the mess with these tricks. Oh, you can also pry open the arils under water to lessen the juice squirt-age. 🙂
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
I’ve been wanting to make this for a while now! I neeeed it! Beautiful photos 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks, Karen!! It took a while to make, but it was definitely worth the time!
Tash says
Oh my goodness, this sounds amazing! Pomegranate with molasses – or molasses with pomegranate?!!? It would make an amazing coffee stirrer!
Lisa says
Thanks, Tash!
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Oh my gosh this is fantastic! I can only imagine how much better homemade is than storebought. I totally want to do this! I think it could make a lovely homemade gift 😉
Lisa says
Thanks, Allie! Now that you mention it, I should definitely make another batch and bottle it as a gift for Christmas!
Phoebe @ Feed Me Phoebe says
The color of this pomegranate molasses is stunning and I would love to try it with so many things!
Lisa says
Thanks, Phoebe! I was just thinking of other ways to use the molasses. Maybe something with eggplant in it…
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
pooh can’t wait to try this!
Lisa says
Thanks, Caralyn! Let me know how it goes!
Sly Smith | Lemon Tree Letters says
I have a big bottle of the brown molasses, I had no idea you could make your own! Thanks for the recipe! So pretty!
Lisa says
Thanks! Let me know how it goes for your!
Maggie says
Wow, I never thought I can make pomegranate molasses at home! I got a bottle from supermarket last year when i visited Turkey. I only cooked with it once and the flavor is not as great as I expected. Really want to try the homemade version some time. It looks much better than the one from the market 🙂
I didn’t find a lot of recipes online that use pomegranate molasses. Looking forward to more recipe on how to use it 🙂
Lisa says
I definitely think that the homemade version tastes soo much better. I just made caramelized brussels sprouts with them, but I don’t know if they have it in Beijing. Something worth trying might be roasting eggplant (the Asian kind) and potatoes together and adding a bit of this pomegranate molasses in it!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Not even kidding you here- australia is OBSESSED with Pomegranate molasses as in- every ‘shique’ restaurant incorporates it somehow. The thing is- you can’t buy it anywhere! Promise I’ll make it when I’m back on home soil.
Speaking of which- I’m kinda mad we didn’t hang out!
Lisa says
You have to tell me what you think of the pom molasses!!
Also, Yes, it’s sooo sad that we didn’t get to meet up! You need to swing by the Bay Area the next time you’re around!
Beth (OMG! Yummy) says
Saying hi from SITS! I have another project for you now – make your own date syrup!!! It’s a perfect substitute for maple syrup or honey. Recently I used it, along with pomegranate molasses on a roasted delicata squash that I finished with fresh arils. Love your brussels sprouts recipe! I run a virtual cooking community called Tasting Jerusalem that is ingredient driven – we’ve done pomegranate molasses and date syrup. Come say hi – the group is on FB, G+, PInterest as Tasting Jerusalem or at the hashtag #tastingjrslm on Twitter and Instagram.
Lisa says
Yum—date syrup sounds delicious! I’ll definitely check out your Tasting Jerusalem community. Sounds fun!
Love CompassionateLee says
This looks too good to be true. I am going to test this out a.s.a.p. Thanks for the recipe and Happy Sunday, Lisa 🙂 Have an awesome week!
Lisa says
Thanks, you too!!
Karrie says
Lisa help! I just finished last night and my molasses didn’t thicken up like the picture. I brought itvto a boil and left it on med/high for an hour….? Maybe with my old stove it didn’t get hot enough long enough? Help!
Lisa says
Hi Karrie! The molasses starts to thicken once it cools off. While the molasses is still over heat, it will still be quite runny. What is the consistency of the molasses like today?
Karrie says
Barely thicker than the juice. (I had some left over from the recipe.
Lisa says
And how much of the molasses did you end up with when you finished the recipe? About a cup? If you have a lot of leftovers, you could pop it back into your saucepan again over medium heat and add a little bit more sugar (about 2 tablespoons or so), and cook it until the molasses is about the consistency of a thick cough syrup. Then, turn the heat off and let it cool. Does that make sense?
Karrie says
Yes….that was my thought…..I’ll heat it up again. I definitely had more than a cup! Thanks and I hope you have a wonderful day. 🙂
heather @french press says
I’ve have actually been on the hunt for pomegranate molasses, but have not found any in the stores. I cannot wait to try this
Lisa says
Thanks, Heather! Let me know if you make it!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
In my search for homemade grenadine, I found I needed pomegranate molasses. I googled it and I was excited to find you have a recipe! So, I’ve made it and it smells divine. In the refrigerator it goes to thicken, then I will be on my way to one fresh margarita! Thank you for this, Lisa! So happy to make this from your recipe! xo 😀
Lisa Lin says
Yes!! Traci, I’m so glad you tried it, and thank you for letting me know how it went! So glad it worked. Can’t wait to see this margarita! Are you going to post it on your blog?
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Hey Lisa.. I just posted the margarita recipe! It is fabulous! Thank you again for your Pom Molasses. I linked back to you for the recipe! 😀
Shera Melson says
After cutting the pomegranate, try getting the arils out by holding them under the water in the bowl. Less mess.
mary anderson says
can i can the juice? i have alt of pomegranates, and not room in the freezer for all the juice. if i canned it i can keep it unrefrigerated. please help?
Lisa Lin says
Hi Mary, I don’t do much canning at home, so I don’t have a good answer for you. Sorry about that!
Tyler says
DIY pom molasses is definitely the way to go. We use it often in our test kitchen and it’s always a hit. Great recipe, very easy to follow!
Barbara G says
I accidentally found your recipe after not finding the syrup locally. I googled it, after looking for it in Amazon, where they ranged from $8 to $30 for similar amounts. (around 10 oz) So I had no idea if the cheaper ones were any good or the highest ones were just way over-prices.
Since I now live in small-town, middle of nowhere, and it’s still late winter, do you recommendation brands of the juice, or can one get it as frozen concentrate?
Then once I make it, would you please list a few dishes, other than deserts, you’d use it on.
Thanks for the recipe, photos and your replies to comments, that I found very healthful too.
Barbara G says
I want to try this recipe. I just saw Pom powder online. Do you know anything about it? Would this be a good alternative to make the boiling process shorter. ?
Lisa Lin says
I have not tried pom powder before, so I can’t attest to how they would work in the recipe. Sorry about that!
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Barbara! I don’t think it’s really necessary to get the $30 bottles. Is R.W. Knudsen one of the brands you see on Amazon? The juice is made from concentrate, but it does the job. Hope this helps!
Dilushani says
If i only wanted enough to use this in a muhammara dip would 1 pomegranate be enough?
Can this be made with a refined sugar alternative?
How long can you store this for for?
Thanks 🙂
Lisa Lin says
Yes, 1 large pomegranate should be enough.
Dave Kliman says
Can I just use plain pomegranate juice without the lemon juice or the sugar? What would happen?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Dave. You can leave out the lemon juice, but the sugar is what helps thicken the pomegranate juice so that the molasses has the syrup consistency. If you reduce pomegranate juice by itself, the liquid will get darker, but it won’t thicken.
Lynn Hobeika says
Hello, I’ve been doing pomegranate molasses at home for years without lemon or sugar, it thickens so well all alone, and the end color is just sublime. the same Ruby color you have in your pictures. Pomegranate Molasses Color gets darker depending on the color of the arils.
I believe that pomegranate fruit is sour enough on its own. But if you want to make it less sour you can add one or two sweet pomegranates instead of sugar.
Hope this helps
Suzie says
Can you substitute honey for the sugar. Have UC and can’t have sugar.
Lisa Lin says
Hi Suzie, I think honey will work!
Boris says
Made one change: cook it down without sugar and then add sugar in the last 15 min. That way I don’t have to check so often.
Lisa Lin says
Great tip! Thanks, Boris. I have to try that some time!
Ahd Mattar says
Hello Lisa,
I was wondering where can I find the video?
If you may could you tell me the ingredients please ?
Esnehar Lalanne says
How long does the molasses keep for?
In the fridge or cupboard?
How long should I wait until storing it? and should I be storing it or anything while I wait?
Thanks
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Esnehar! Store this in a tight jar in the fridge. Because of the high sugar content, it should keep for up to 2 months.
Poonam Kapur says
There doesn’t seem to be a recipe with quantities on this page, only the pics and tips. Where is the recipe?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Poonam. Thank you for bringing this to my attention! I have no idea what happened. Somehow the recipe disappeared! Thankfully, I had a backup of the recipe, and I have added it back into the post. Thanks again!
Waleed Baloch says
Can i use it to make tea??? Or do u have a different recipe for that..
Birdy says
hello! Thanks for posting this recipe, can’t wait to try it! Just wanted to leave a tip for people who are concerned about shelf life- add 2 oz vodka to the finished room temperature product, & it’ll extend the shelf life greatly! (1 oz for small batches)
Irene Findley says
Tried this recipe tonight. Unfortunately, I think I overcooked it because as it is cooling – it’s becoming a pretty thick and stiff. Will put it in the fridge until I use it this weekend. Should I microwave it to soften it ?
It tastes great but it seemed to go from liquid to “Oops” very quickly. I cooked it for at least 1.5 hours.
Thanks!
KL says
Looking forward to trying this out. If we leave out the sugar and add just lime, would it taste okay and would the final consistency be different ?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, KL. If you leave out the sugar, I don’t think you’ll get the same thick syrup consistency.
Jennifer macrostie says
The flavor of this was amazing. Will never buy the stuff again. I didn’t make as much as recipe suggested but think mine were a little under ripe. However have nothing but trees dripping with fruit so will make more. Thank you
Jen says
We just picked and juiced pomegranates at a farm yesterday and ended up with almost 4 gallons of juice! Pomegranate molasses for everyone this Christmas!
Thank you for the recipe!
Lisa Lin says
That’s an awesome gift idea, Jen!
Kristen says
Procrastinated on ordering pomegranate molasses and no grocers in my small town carry it unfortunately. Googled and am very happy to have found your recipe! Made with POM 100% pomegranate juice and it tastes like the real deal with the added bonus of that gorgeous color! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Donna says
Awesome———sweet
Cathy says
This was super easy to make. I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. It came out so good. I used Langer’s 100% pomegranate juice. I’ll always make my own. Thank you!
Anne Marie McCormack says
I was thinking of putting this up (canning jars) and am concerned that processing it will continue to cook it and turn the beautiful color to brown. Thoughts on that? Or would freezing be better?
Kai says
I tried to make this and the liquid reduced during the hour it simmered but the juice didn’t thicken even after days in the fridge, Im not sure what I could have done wrong I followed the recipe exactly except for cutting the servings in half. Would adding some sort of starch/flour slurry work or can i put it back in a saucepan and simmer it with more sugar?
Carol L says
Just wondering about an answer to the question about canning the final product…..
Devit Clark says
Wow, what a great idea about pomegranate molasses, I like it and I think that I will try it my home.
Cole Sevier says
I loved the recipe, is there a recipe for the cheesecake at the bottom?
Lisa Lin says
Hi, Cole. No, that cheesecake was gifted to me from a farmer at the farmers market!
melangers says
Its wow and looks so yummy. Keep posting…
Joel says
Using fresh lemon and pomegranate really makes this recipe shine! I stumbled upon it and definitely will use again! Makes great gifts!!
Kathy says
My pomegranates where very ugly on the outside this year for some reason and we didn’t get as many as we normally do. But they were still great on the inside and I had enough to try this recipe. It turned out great! Now I am looking forward to trying new recipes using this.
claire says
hi. your ingredient list in the recipe is confusing. no where on it does it say how much molasses.
would you mind sending me that info?
thanks