When I was growing up in Poland pomegranates were one of the most exotic fruit I could think of. They made my imagination wander to the mythical Middle East as portrayed in romanticised Orientalist paintings and illustrations by the mid and late 19th century European artists. Fierce Bedouins on camels charging with scimitars drawn, exotic Moroccan markets and half naked white girls happily lounging on Persian carpets in dimly lit harems. The stuffy gents of the bourgeoisie really loved the harem paintings.
Pasha's Delight is very simple to make. Take 2, medium sized, pomegranates, cut them in half and scoop out the seeds. Try to capture as much of the juice as possible.
Doing this was harder than I expected and maybe there is a trick to it that I don't know about. I checked and there doesn't seem to be - you basically cut the fruit, scoop out what you can and then break it up some more and scoop out the rest, finally pick out the white pith ad flesh. Here are some instructions at Simply Recipes. Two things I found to be helpful was doing this over a bowel and squeezing the fruit to loosen the seeds.
Once you have the seeds and juice put everything in a jar and pour in 2 liters of Baczewski vodka. Of course you can use any other vodka or even alcohol like, lets say, Araq. Seal tightly, shake and leave in a sunny location for about 2 weeks. Shake the jar from time to time to facilitate the absorption of the flavors and color.
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| 2 pomegranates and 2 liters of Baczewski vodka. | Let your Nalewka sun for about 2 weeks. | Finished Pasha's Delight |
After 2 weeks you will notice that the seeds have lost all their color and hopefully flavor while the vodka has turned a lovely light pinkish, magenta color. Strain out the seeds, filter if you wish and bottle.
This a nice Nalewka with a subtle fruity flavor and a light pleasant if unassuming color. Very drinkable and I'm sure it would mature and improve well over several months. The title of Pasha was granted to high ranking officials in the Ottoman Empire and I'm sure if they drank alcohol they would find this one delightful. But, I was looking for something with a little more umph in the flavor department, something to go with the sumptuous Orientalist paintings.
While shopping at my favorite Middle Eastern market, the Altayebat in Orange County, I came across these huge pomegranates. They were about 3 times as big as the ones from my tree. I bought 2.
This is what you will need to kick Pasha's Delight up to the next flavor level:
- The juice and seeds from 2 very large pomegranates (about a pound)
- 2 cups of sugar
- Juice and rind from 1 orange
- 4 to 8 split cardamon pods
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| Seed and juice the pomegranates. | Juice and seeds, sugar, orange and cardamon. | Cook and de-scum. |
Put all the ingredients in a pot and let them stand for at least 30 minutes so that the sugar can pull the juice from the seeds. Slowly bring the mixture to a boil stirring occasionally. Simmer for about 5 minutes stirring and, if you want, you can de-scum for final product clarity. Let the mixture cool a little and pour it into the jar with the Pasha's Delight. Leave in a sunny location for about 2 weeks shaking the jar from time to time.
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| Sun your Nalewka again for about 2 weeks. | Strain, filter and bottle. | So put on your kaftan and turban and enjoy a Roxelana and a puff on the old hookah. |
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| Roxelana |
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| Süleyman the Magnificent |
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| Roxelana's Türbe (tomb) |
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| White women in Turkish slavery - a favorite with 19th century gents. |
After 2 weeks you will notice that the seeds have lost their color again and now your Nalewka has a spectacular, deep magenta color. Strain, filter if you wish and bottle. Right away you will notice how strong, fruity and sweet the flavor is. After just a few weeks it will loose most of it's initial roughness. I can tell this one will mature very well. I will have to hide a bottle so that it will keep for at least a year. The color is also spectacular and will add a nice tone and flavor to any cocktail that calls for pomegranates and sweetness.
I named it Roxelana after the Ruthanian maiden, Hürrem Sultan, who stole Süleyman the Magnificent's heart. According to Polish tradition she was born Alexandra Lisowska around 1510 and lived in the town of Rohatyn in the Southern, Kresy region of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. She was captured by raiding Tatars and sold as a slave to the sultan's harem.
She must have been really something because Süleyman, the most powerful ruler of the most powerful empire of the time, became obsessed with her. She quickly became his haseki and eventually he freed her and made her his official wife. This made it possible, after a bunch of court intrigue, prolicide, fratricide and just plain old murder, for one of her 5 children, Selim, to become the next Sultan. She had unprecedented powers at the Süleyman court and engaged in politics, the arts and many charities. She remembered her humble beginnings and established a women's hospital near the women's slave market in Istanbul.
Her husband when not conquering the Balkans, reconstructing the Ottoman legal system, building libraries, refectories, fountains, soup kitchens and hospitals for the benefit of the public found time to compose poems to Roxelana.
My woman of the beautiful hair, my love of the slanted brow, my love of eyes full of mischief…
I'll sing your praises always
I, lover of the tormented heart, Muhibbi of the eyes full of tears, I am happy.
In Europe Hürrem Sultan was known as Roxelana which comes from the name Ruslana which is one of the names used for Eastern Slavs. Her story captured the European imagination and she has inspired paintings, musical works (including Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 63), an opera, a ballet, plays, and several novels.
While in the late 19th century women across Western Europe and America were demanding social and political equality the horny gents of the bourgeoisie were dreaming of young, half naked, white, slave girls lounging about in the opulent Ottoman harems puffing on their hookahs and sipping a Roxelana liqueur - shall we say "Bottoms up!"
