Pomegranate Chicken Strips

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PRESENTATION

Rich color and a nice burst of flavor make pomegranate chicken strips an ALL-TIME favorite for family meals and parties. These strips jump off the plate with their deep, eye-catching color—brought to life by pomegranate molasses, which gives them that bold tangy and sweet flavor combination families can’t get enough of. Each bite brings together juicy flavors, a little bit of crisp bite from the succulent chicken skin, and that familiar comfort of bone-in chicken (kids and grownups both love the FUN of picking these up). Great for celebrations or busy weeknights, there's just something about the tangy hit of the Middle Eastern spices next to the natural sweetness and that vibrant colorful appearance. Home cooks often go back to this dish for easy wins—baked chicken with an aromatic twist is ALWAYS a crowd-pleaser, whether you’re adding it over fluffy rice, tossing it in a bowl of greens, or stacking it on a family platter for everyone to dig in together.

For busy families, pomegranate chicken strips are a real game changer—simple enough for weekday dinners, impressive enough for company. Since the crispy chicken skin adds so much nice texture, you end up with a dish that feels special without being fussy (kids tend to pick these right off the tray, honestly). Pair these flavorful strips with a scoop of cumin-spiced rice or serve them as part of a mezze platter with that “wow” effect thanks to their colorful appearance. Lots of folks love dipping in pomegranate-studded yogurt or scooping up bites with warm flatbread, so there are ENDLESS serving options. Works for casual potlucks, quick family meals, or weekend brunches—this recipe’s got that extra something with pomegranate molasses and brings great taste to any meal. Whenever you want hassle-free dinners loaded with flavor and maximum family appeal, these chicken strips deliver: juicy, sweet, tangy, and always delicious. It’s an easy family go-to with a unique twist—no wonder people love coming back for seconds.

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INGREDIENTS
Chicken breast 1.6 lbs (720 g)
Pomegranate 1.5 lbs (700 g) - (about 2 whole)
Type 00 flour ½ cup (60 g)
Extra virgin olive oil 4.1 tbsp (60 g)
Black pepper to taste
Fine salt to taste
Mixed salad 3 ½ cups (100 g)
Preparation

How to prepare Pomegranate Chicken Strips

To prepare pomegranate chicken strips, start by cleaning the chicken breast. Remove the fat 1 and tendons, cut it in half, and also remove the central bone and cartilage 2. Now divide it into two parts 3.

Cut each part into long strips about a quarter inch wide 4, which you can place in a bowl 5. Cut the pomegranates in half 6 and peel them, removing the seeds. Be careful to eliminate the yellow parts and peels as they are very bitter. Keep aside the seeds of half a pomegranate for the final decoration.

Pour the pomegranate seeds into a food mill 7 and collect the juice in a small bowl. Save a small portion of the juice for deglazing the chicken during cooking, and transfer the rest into the bowl with the chicken strips so they can marinate 8. Cover the bowl with transparent food wrap and let it marinate for at least 40 minutes in the refrigerator 9.

After the time has passed, let it drain in a fine-mesh strainer 10. Then transfer it to a tray lined with paper towels 11 and pat it dry with kitchen paper 12.

In a non-stick pan, heat the oil; meanwhile, thoroughly flour the chicken 13 and add it to the pan with the hot oil 14. Sear it over high heat for 2-3 minutes. Then add the pomegranate juice you set aside 15 and let it evaporate.

Turn off the heat and add the whole pomegranate seeds 16. Finally, take a plate and arrange a bed of previously washed and well-dried mixed greens 17 on which you can lay the chicken strips. The pomegranate chicken strips are now ready to be enjoyed 18!

Storage

This tasty dish can be consumed hot or warm. If any is left over, you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

It is not recommended to freeze pomegranate chicken strips.

Tip

If you want to give a more intense flavor to this preparation, you can deglaze the chicken with brandy instead of pomegranate juice (which you will use entirely for the marinade and final decoration). The pomegranate is delicious but laborious to deseed: when cleaning the seeds, be sure to completely remove the whitish-yellow membrane covering them as it has a bitter taste.

Curiosity

Did you know that in Turkey, it was customary for brides, and still is for some, to throw a pomegranate fruit to the ground and count the number of seeds that came out of the fruit? This would indicate the number of children they would bear! Indeed, in ancient times, the pomegranate was associated with fertility due to the numerous red seeds inside. The Earth Goddess Demeter, for example, is often depicted with a pomegranate, and in Greece, during the festivals in honor of the Goddess, these delicious seeds were savored as a wish for fertility and prosperity.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.