Homemade Pomegranate Molasses

It's easy to make this essential ingredient in traditional Middle Eastern cooking.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated November 15, 2023
Elise Bauer
Pomegranate Molasses
Elise Bauer

Ever since Pom Wonderful started marketing the health benefits of pomegranate juice, and selling them in those cool pom shaped bottles, more and more recipes calling for pomegranate molasses have been popping up.

Pomegranate molasses is a traditional ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking and can be used in a variety of dishes such as Fesenjan Persian chicken stew or eggplant lentil stew.

Pomegranate Molasses
Elise Bauer

You can also mix it with a little orange juice and club soda for a refreshing punch. Pomegranate molasses can be found at Middle Eastern markets, or you can easily make some yourself with some pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon.

Homemade Pomegranate Molasses

Cook Time 60 mins
Total Time 60 mins
Servings 16 servings
Yield 1 cup

To make pomegranate juice, place the arils (from about 8 large pomegranates) in a blender and pulse just enough so that the arils are broken up. (Do not pulse so much that you blend the bitter white hard part into the juicy red parts.) Then strain through a fine mesh sieve.

Note that pomegranates vary in their acidity level and sweetness. Depending on the juice you are using, you many need to add more or less sugar or lemon juice to get the right balance of sugar and acidity.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups pomegranate juice

  • 1/2 cup sugar

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Method

  1. Combine ingredients in a pan and simmer:

    In a large, wide, uncovered saucepan, heat pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice on medium high until the sugar has dissolved and the juice simmers.

    Reduce heat just enough to maintain a simmer.

    Pomegranate Molasses
    Elise Bauer
  2. Reduce to a syrup:

    Simmer for about an hour, or until the juice has a syrupy consistency, and has reduced to 1 to 1 1/4 cups.

    If you want your pomegranate molasses to be sweeter, add more sugar to taste, while you are cooking it.

  3. Store in a jar, chilled:

    Pour out into a jar. Let cool. Store chilled in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
58 Calories
0g Fat
15g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 58
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 6mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 7mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 135mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.