17 Pomegranate Recipes to Brighten Up a Very Brown Thanksgiving

I host Thanksgiving every year, and my table is mostly brown. Turkey, gravy, stuffing, and rolls all land in the same warm shade. Pomegranate brings the red.

I’ve cooked my mom’s pomegranate molasses eggplant every Rosh Hashanah for 20 years. When pomegranates show up at my local market, I make one of my family’s most requested dishes: one-pot pomegranate chicken and rice.

These 17 recipes put that ruby color to work, from crispy Brussels sprouts and whipped feta to glazed salmon and a vegan malabi. Pick two or three, and your table won’t be so brown.

Pomegranate Pistachio Whipped Feta

Whipped feta is something I’ve made so many times that the steps feel automatic. Whip feta with yogurt, honey, and lemon zest, then top with pistachios and pomegranate seeds, and serve with grilled bread for scooping. Set it out while the turkey finishes, and the snack table gets its first pop of red.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Pistachio Whipped Feta

Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon

My mom’s baked salmon got a fresh twist here, just in time for Rosh Hashana. Pomegranate molasses and date honey get brushed over one large salmon fillet, and fresh pomegranate seeds go on top at the end. It’s simple enough for a weeknight and pretty enough to add some red to a Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic

Brussels sprouts are something I’ve been learning to love, and my usual Middle Eastern way to dress them is a balsamic and pomegranate molasses drizzle. The air fryer gets them crispy, then feta and pomegranate seeds go on top. Green, white, and ruby red is a good break from all that brown.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Prosciutto and Pomegranate

Roasted cauliflower turns golden and caramelized, and it’s the star of this salad. Crisp, salty prosciutto, spinach, and juicy pomegranate seeds join it for plenty of contrast in every bite. It’s a lighter side that looks fresh next to a plate of gravy and stuffing.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Prosciutto and Pomegranate

Berry Salad With Red Onions, Arugula, Nuts, And Pomegranate Arils

A riff on a salad I’d been eating a lot lately turned into this one, and it comes together in about 15 minutes. Toss peppery arugula, berries, red onion, toasted nuts, and pomegranate seeds in one bowl with a honey-mustard dressing. Set it next to the turkey, and the table finally gets some color.
Get the Recipe: Berry Salad With Red Onions, Arugula, Nuts, And Pomegranate Arils

Pomegranate & Rose Vegan Malabi

Malabi from an Israeli street vendor is tempting, but it usually means a stomachache and a long nap afterward, so I made a lighter vegan one. It uses coconut milk and a strawberry rose syrup made with real strawberries instead of food coloring, and it’s gluten-free. Chill it in glasses with pomegranate seeds on top for a pink dessert at a table full of brown ones.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate & Rose Vegan Malabi

Roasted Honeynut Squash with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese

Honeynut squash roasts in about 25 minutes with a maple-and-pomegranate molasses glaze, making it easy enough for a weeknight and pretty enough for Thanksgiving. Add goat cheese, pistachios, and pomegranate seeds at the end, and keeping them separate until then helps them keep their texture. Orange squash, white cheese, green pistachios, and red seeds make it much more colorful than the usual side.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honeynut Squash with Pomegranate and Goat Cheese

Pomegranate Goat Cheese Crostini

Crostini are a small place for a few pomegranate seeds, and a little red goes a long way. Spread tangy goat cheese on toasted bread, then top with juicy seeds. Pass a tray before dinner, and your guests see red before they see brown.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Goat Cheese Crostini

Pomegranate Ginger Mocktail

Ginger gives this pomegranate mocktail a bold kick, and a sparkling finish keeps it light and fizzy. Pour it into clear glasses for anyone skipping alcohol at Thanksgiving, and the red color shows from across the room.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Ginger Mocktail

Pomegranate Mocktail

Everyone at the table can share this tart, slightly sweet pomegranate mocktail, kids included. That deep red color alone is enough to make people want a glass. Put out a pitcher for easy color on the Thanksgiving table.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Mocktail

Pomegranate Chicken With Walnuts

Persian and Armenian pomegranate and walnut chicken, tasted at Nowruz, is what inspired this dish, and I adapted it for Rosh Hashana. The chicken cooks in a tangy-sweet pomegranate sauce with toasted walnuts, topped with fresh seeds and herbs. It’s festive enough for Thanksgiving, so serve it beside the turkey for a second main with plenty of color.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Chicken With Walnuts

Pomegranate Christmas Cheese Ball

After Christmas cooking, I always have goat cheese, rosemary, honey, and a bowl of pomegranate seeds left from the fruit platter that never made it to the table. Let the goat cheese soften, shape it into a ball, and press seeds all over it, adding a little cream cheese if you want it milder. It’s a showpiece for the holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Christmas Cheese Ball

Middle Eastern Eggplant With Pomegranate Molasses

I’ve cooked my mom’s recipe every Rosh Hashanah for 20 years, and I still haven’t found a step worth changing. Roasted eggplant gets tossed with pomegranate molasses while it’s still hot off the sheet pan, then topped with pomegranate seeds. It keeps well at room temperature for a few hours, so it’s an easy make-ahead side for any holiday table, with ruby seeds that bring color to the plate.
Get the Recipe: Middle Eastern Eggplant With Pomegranate Molasses

Pomegranate Squash Quinoa Salad

Squash and quinoa make a hearty salad for anyone who wants a vegetable that feels like a real dish. Scatter pomegranate seeds over the top for a juicy bite. It brightens the brownest corner of the table.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Squash Quinoa Salad

1-Pot Pomegranate Chicken and Rice

When pomegranates show up at my local market, I know it’s time to make this chicken and rice, one of my family’s most requested dishes. Chicken and rice cook together with pomegranate molasses, honey, and warm spices, then get topped with pistachios, parsley, and pomegranate seeds. It’s just one pot to wash, and those red seeds are an easy way to brighten a holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: 1-Pot Pomegranate Chicken and Rice

Mini Pomegranate Chocolate Tarts

Mini tarts mean everyone gets their own little chocolate dessert, with no slicing needed. A small pile of pomegranate seeds on the rich filling makes each one look finished. Line them up beside the pie for a little red on the dessert table.
Get the Recipe: Mini Pomegranate Chocolate Tarts

Salted Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Tart

Dark chocolate and a pinch of sea salt make this tart rich, and pomegranate seeds on top add a juicy bite. It’s made for a special occasion. Ruby seeds on dark chocolate are a nice change from another brown dessert.
Get the Recipe: Salted Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Tart

If you’re bringing pomegranate to Thanksgiving this year, which dish would you want everyone to try?