Pomegranate isn't a traditional rojak ingredient, but a handful of arils scattered over a bowl of rojak buah does something the usual mix of pineapple, cucumber and jicama doesn't — it adds a burst of tart juice instead of just crunch.
Why it works in the mix
Rojak buah leans on the pedas manis sauce for most of its punch, and the fruit underneath is mostly there for texture. Pomegranate arils bring their own acidity, so they cut through the sauce's sweetness a little rather than just soaking it up the way pineapple does. A small handful is enough — too much and the sauce turns watery from the juice.
Prepping it for a stall or a home batch
Deseed just before serving, not the night before. Arils held overnight in a container start weeping juice and turn the whole bowl soggy by the next day. Cracking the fruit open under a bowl of water and picking the seeds out lets the white pith float off without staining your hands or the cutting board.
Pairing it with Sayer
Sayer dates are on the drier, firmer side compared to Medjool or rotab, which makes them easier to chop into small pieces without turning to paste — a few chopped Sayer pieces stirred through a fruit salad or rojak base add sweetness without the sogginess that a very soft date would bring.
What to buy and when
Fresh pomegranate at Malaysian markets is cheapest and freshest from around October through to the new year, which lines up with when Sayer dates from the current harvest also start showing up. Buying both around the same time means less guessing about how long either has been sitting on the shelf.
Browse our Dates Fruit range, and the healthy food category for more.