RECIPES: Pomegranate holiday appetizers 3 ways

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — With the holiday season in full swing, we’re always looking for easy, festive appetizers for our holiday celebrations. 

Whether you’re hosting a big party or an intimate dinner party, our Lunds & Byerlys Downtown St. Paul Food Expert Marla Jadoonanan has three pomegranate holiday appetizers that your guests will love. For these ideas and more, visit their website. 

Cranberry Pomegranate Crostini

This colorful appetizer adds festive flair to your holiday gatherings.

• 1  L&B Baguette
• ½ cup fresh cranberries, chopped
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons honey
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped, 
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 4 ounces goat cheese
• 2 tablespoons orange zest

1. Cut baguette into slices and toast on a baking sheet in the oven.
2. In a small bowl, mix together cranberries, pomegranate seeds, parsley, olive oil and honey. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
3. Spread each baguette slice with goat cheese and top with the cranberry pomegranate mixture. Sprinkle with fresh orange zest. 

Mango Pomegranate Guacamole 

An unexpectedly sweet, tropical twist on fresh guacamole. 

• 4 ripe avocados
• 1 cup white onion, finely chopped
• 2 fresh serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped  
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice, or to taste          
• 1¼ teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
• ¾ cup pomegranate seeds (about 1 pomegranate)
• ¾ cup mango, peeled and diced
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds  
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped

1. Halve, pit and peel avocados. Coarsely mash in a bowl.
2. Stir in onion, chiles, lime juice and salt.
3. Fold in pomegranate seeds, mango and cilantro.
4. Season with salt and additional lime juice. Garnish with lime wedges.

Shrimp & Avocado Toasts

A simple, satisfying appetizer that your guests will love. 

• 1 loaf bread
• 2 avocados 
• fresh lemon juice, about ½ a lemon 
• salt 
• pepper
• 1 package L&B All-Natural Cooked Shrimp
• 2 tablespoons L&B Tequila Lime Shrimp Seasoning
• ¼ cup pomegranate seeds  

1. Toast slices of your favorite bread. Using a cookie cutter or glass, cut toast rounds out of the slices.
2. Smash one or two avocados with the juice of half a lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Top toast rounds with avocado spread.
4. Season L&B All-Natural Cooked Shrimp with L&B Tequila Lime Shrimp Seasoning. Top the avocado toasts with a shrimp and pomegranate seeds.

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