14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (2024)

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Get to know this underrated fall fruit that deserves just as much attention as apples or pumpkins.

By

Anna Kovel

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (1)

Anna Kovel

Anna is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

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Updated on September 25, 2023

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14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (2)

Persimmons, vivid orange fruits of autumn, have been cultivated in parts of Asia for at least 1,000 years but remain mysterious to many of us in the United States. We're finally catching up, and that means that we're discovering ways, both new and old, for using persimmons in savory preparations as well as sweet ones throughout fall.

Types of Persimmon

The two varieties commonly available in the U.S. are Fuyu and Hachiya. Before you buy a persimmon, it's important to know which type you're considering because that will affect how and when to prepare it.

Fuyu

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (3)

Fuyu is the squat persimmon with a rounded bottom, pictured here. It can be eaten when firm or soft. To choose a fuyu, look for one with taut skin free of blemishes. When it's firm, simply cut away the leaves, wash or peel, then slice it as you would an apple; it is crunchy and sweet, and best for salads. To eat it when soft, store at room temperature until it gives to the touch, similar to a tomato.

Hachiya

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (4)

On the other hand, the Hachiya persimmon has an elongated, heart-like shape, as pictured above. It should only be eaten when very ripe; when firm, the Hachiya is so astringent it can make your mouth dry to the point of numbness. It will ripen at room temperature, and once ripened, the luscious, aromatic fruit is unforgettable. It can be ripened far past the point at which you might throw away most other fruits; when the skin appears almost translucent, and the fruit feels mushy, you can bake with it—or slice off the top and eat its jelly-like contents right away.

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Persimmon Tart

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Move over pumpkin pie; here comes persimmon tart! A crispy, buttery crust holds a sweet, almost fudgelike filling made with ripe Fuyu persimmons, heavy cream, eggs, sugar, and butter. It’s lightly spiced with cinnamon, clove, black pepper, and star anise—and it’s just so good.

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Persimmon and Bresaola Bites

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Wedges of firm Fuyu persimmon wrapped in paper-thin slices of bresaola (an Italian air-dried beef) are a contemporary twist on prosciutto and melon. No recipe required.

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Persimmon Compote

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Poached in a bewitchingly spiced syrup with cinnamon and star anise, firm or semi-firm Fuyu persimmons will be a treat spooned over vanilla ice cream. Serve warm or make ahead and store in the refrigerator.

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Persimmon and Brie Crostini

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (8)

Simple yet sophisticated, these no-recipe toasts are the ultimate fruit and cheese appetizer. A quick turn under the broiler brings out the flavor of the persimmon, and turns the cheese perfectly melty.

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Persimmon, Beet, and Citrus Salad

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The best salads are a medley of textures, flavors, and colors. Arrange all the ingredients for this one as a composed salad, or simply toss together. The sweetness of Fuyu persimmons and beets balances the sunny acidity of citrus and crisp, bitter greens, hitting all the notes.

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Frozen Persimmon Custard

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The best one-ingredient fall dessert and another no-recipe-needed persimmon idea. Firm Fuyu persimmons can be frozen for eight hours (or up to a month), which softens and preserves them. To serve, cut off the tops with a serrated knife and spoon out the sweet, custard-like frozen fruit. Similarly, soft Fuyu and Hachiya varieties can also be frozen, and once defrosted, the flesh will be soft enough to blend into a recipe.

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Pork With Persimmons and Mustard Greens

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A pork roast with greens and persimmons makes a beautiful—and simple—autumn dinner. Use firm or semi-firm Fuyu persimmons; there's time for them to soften in the oven, where they'll be seasoned with sizzling pork fat before being splashed with an amber, nutty Marsala wine.

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Mixed Chicories With Persimmons

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (12)

A perfect dinner salad for the late fall and winter, this mixture of the season's best bitter greens is mellowed by sweet Fuyu persimmons, walnuts, and bright pomegranate seeds.

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Broiled Persimmons With Mascarpone

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This fantastically simple dessert is a surprising and delicious way to end a winter meal. Ripe Fuyu persimmons are halved, drizzled with honey, and broiled until caramelized.

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Caramelized Persimmons With Prosciutto

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Another luxe fall starter pairing salty meat with lush Fuyu persimmons. Here, the persimmons are brûléed with the kitchen torch or broiler.

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Steamed Persimmon Pudding

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In the style of traditional English winter puddings, this spiced cake is steamed slowly on the stovetop and served warm. Soft (to the point of mushy) Hachiya persimmons with their deep, sweet flavor are used in the batter. Once the cake is cooked and turned out of its mold it can be garnished with dried Fuyu persimmon slices.

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Persimmon Fruit Leather

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Your favorite childhood snack gets way more sophisticated when you pair persimmons with pineapple.

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Persimmon and Escarole Salad

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Elevate a simple green salad with sweet-tart persimmons and buttery pistachios. It's the perfect way to round out any fall meal.

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Persimmon White Chocolate Bread Pudding

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This unusual dessert is rich, sweet, and just right for a special dinner. Everyone knows bread pudding, but not everyone has tried it with Fuyu persimmon purée and a white chocolate custard. It’s an unexpected combination that really works.

Steamed Persimmon Pudding

Updated by

Victoria Spencer

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (19)

Victoria Spencer

Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.

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14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (2024)

FAQs

What does persimmon do for your body? ›

Persimmons are sweet, versatile fruits full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. What's more, they may promote heart health, reduce inflammation, support healthy vision, and keep your digestive system healthy. Plus, they are tasty and pair well with many foods.

How many persimmons can you eat a day? ›

How many persimmons can you eat a day? A. It is better not to eat more than one persimmon or 100 g of fruit in a day. Excessive consumption of persimmons may lead to intestinal blockages, nausea, vomiting, or constipation.

What can you do with persimmon fruit? ›

Fuyu persimmons are incredibly versatile… not only can you eat them raw in a salad or wrap a slice in a piece of prosciutto and drizzle it with balsamic glaze, but you can also cut them into wedges and roast them, or make a chutney to accompany roasted pork like I did. They also make a great upside down cake!

What is this persimmon doing to my mouth? ›

The persimmon is a unique fruit, often described as astringent or tannic, and it can be a pucker-inducing experience if you bite into one that has not fully ripened. Seriously, an unripe persimmon will make your mouth numb, it is so potently drying and bitter.

What happens if you eat persimmon everyday? ›

Ingesting massive amounts of persimmons can cause bezoars to form. A bezoar is a hard mass that can lead to gastric obstruction. A diospyrobezoar is a subtype of bezoar. Diospyrobezoar are specific to persimmons.

Does persimmon have any health side effects? ›

It has been used in clinical research without reported adverse effects. The fruit might cause allergic reactions in some people, but this is uncommon. Eating the fruit in very large amounts might cause blockage of the intestines.

What not to eat with persimmon? ›

Another set of cold food groupings to avoid include having crab with tea or persimmon. Xie explained: “Crab meat is a very cold type of food in TCM theory, and persimmon fruit is also cold in nature. Most people should avoid eating this food combination, as it can be hard on the digestive system.”

Why cant you eat persimmons on an empty stomach? ›

Excess in persimmons, hawthorns, tea, alcohol or food increasing gastric acidity can cause such stones," said Dr Lu Ying, director of Shanghai Yida Hospital's digestive disease department. "Eating persimmons with an empty stomach or eating an excessive amount of raw persimmons is likely to result in a stone.

Is persimmon healthier than apples? ›

Persimmons had significantly higher levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese. Apples had higher overall concentrations of copper and zinc. Eating one medium-sized persimmon (about 100 grams) a day is enough to help fight atherosclerosis, says Gorinstein.

What pairs well with persimmons? ›

The honeyed sweetness of persimmon pairs well with salty preserved meats such as prosciutto or serrano ham. Add slices of ripe yet firm fruit to a charcuterie platter. Persimmon also works beautifully with cheese – choose anything from creamy mozzarella or burrata to a briny feta, blue cheese or even tart goat's curd.

Should you eat persimmon skin? ›

Persimmons have a delicate honey-like flavor and silky texture. They can be eaten fresh, dried, or cooked, and are very versatile in recipes. Persimmon peels are completely edible. Whether or not to peel the fruit is a matter of personal preference and the recipe that you're using.

Can persimmon be eaten with banana? ›

They are not poisonous. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that eating persimmons with yoghurt and banana are harmful to your body.”

Why do I feel weird after eating persimmons? ›

This sensation can be described as dry, puckering, or even like your mouth has been coated with a layer of silt or talc. The reason behind this peculiar feeling is the high tannin content in persimmons [2]. Tannins are a class of astringent chemical compounds found in plants, including persimmons.

Why does my throat hurt after eating persimmon? ›

Yes, some people can be allergic to persimmons. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, including itching or swelling in the mouth, lips, and throat, hives, stomach discomfort, or in rare cases, anaphylaxis. If you suspect an allergy, consult with an allergist for testing.

Is persimmon a laxative? ›

The fruit is easily chewable and has a delicious flavour, but it is not recommended for diabetics, obese and sufferers of gastroduodenal ulcer. Persimmons have a creamy and sweet pulp and have laxative, diuretic and hepatoprotective.

What cannot be eaten with persimmon? ›

Another set of cold food groupings to avoid include having crab with tea or persimmon. Xie explained: “Crab meat is a very cold type of food in TCM theory, and persimmon fruit is also cold in nature. Most people should avoid eating this food combination, as it can be hard on the digestive system.”

Is persimmon good for weight loss? ›

Persimmons are low in calories and high in fiber – a combination that makes them a good choice for weight control. Their mix of antioxidants and nutrients – including vitamins A and C – makes them ideal for a healthy diet.

Is persimmon high in sugar? ›

Fresh and dried persimmons are important nutritional product, which have high content of sugars, as glucose and fructose as a source of energy.

Is persimmon a natural laxative? ›

It is an energetic fruit, but the high amount of fibres (2,5% on 100g) makes it an excellent remedy against constipation and water retention.

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