Pomegranate Martini

The classic martini is a clean canvas of a cocktail that is perfect for those who adore the fresh flavor of pomegranate. Because we partner with the best specialty producers to bring you quality pomegranate you just can’t get at a grocery store, we love bringing you fruit-forward cocktail recipes like this pomegranate martini.

Pomegranate season happens during the winter, making pomegranate a favorite ingredient for mixologists during the holidays and Valentine's Day. The juice and seeds impart lush ruby color and earthy sweetness to what is a traditionally briney, vodka-based drink. The complex flavor of pomegranate brings to mind cranberry, currant and a bit of acai, making it earthy, sweet and distinct.

POMEGRANATE MARTINI RECIPE

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Serves 1
• Good for: Contains alcohol, vegan
• Difficulty: medium

Looking for a simple and special cocktail featuring fruit? This pomegranate martini recipe combines fresh pomegranate juice, clean-tasting vodka and an aromatic orange liqueur for an interpretation on the classic martini cocktail. 

Perhaps the most widely debated cocktail of all time, the martini can be made with vodka or gin. We’ll let you decide which you like best, because we’re all about the fruit! We recommend a good quality vodka so that the tart sweetness of the pomegranate is front and center. A well made, herbaceous gin can add to the festive vibe to this pomegranate martini, too. Serve it up in a chilled martini glass and garnish with a few pomegranate seeds.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 oz fresh pomegranate juice, recipe to follow
• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau or orange liqueur 
• Ice

EQUIPMENT

• Chef knife
• Cutting board
• Small blender
• Large mixing glass
• Spoon
• Mesh strainer
• Small bowl
• Chilled martini glass

RECIPE

Prepare the pomegranate juice: 

• Remove seeds from one large pomegranate using either the scoring or water bowl method. Reserve about a tablespoon of seeds.
• Place remaining pomegranate seeds into the small blender and pulse three or four times until smooth. Pour the blended seeds through a mesh strainer into a small bowl. Use the back of a spoon to squeeze the pulp into the strainer to extract as much juice as possible. Set aside.

Prepare the cocktail: 

• Pour the vodka, orange liqueur and fresh pomegranate juice into a large mixing glass full of ice. Stir for about 15 seconds or until the cocktail is very cold.
• Strain the beverage into a chilled martini glass and garnish with either whole pomegranate seeds or a curl of orange zest and serve.

Did you know you could make fresh pomegranate juice ahead of time? It’s simple. Just blend a few pomegranates worth of seeds in a blender and strain into a sealed container. Store in the refrigerator for up to three days, or freeze for up to six months. 

If you’re making a batch for a party, combine two parts fresh pomegranate juice with one part orange liqueur. When serving, combine three ounces of the mixture with two ounces of vodka to save a few steps in the preparation process.

For added flair, rim your martini glasses with sugar by first dipping a few inches of the glass’ edge into orange liqueur, before dipping the damp section into sugar crystals. This will add a sweet, sparkling touch to your pomegranate martini presentation.

Tell us how your pomegranate martini came out! Join our Facebook community to swap recipes, compare fruit stories and get tips from fellow fruities. Snap a photo of your FruitStand shipment of specialty-farmed pomegranates and show it to us on Instagram @FruitStandcom to be featured in our stories!