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

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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.

Is it OK to eat 2 persimmons a day? ›

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 not eat with persimmons? ›

Dairy: Consuming dairy products like milk, yogurt, or cheese immediately before or after eating persimmons may lead to digestive issues for some people. This is because persimmons are acidic and can curdle milk, potentially causing stomach discomfort. To avoid this, consider spacing out the consumption of dairy.

What are persimmons good for cooking? ›

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!

Does persimmon have any health side effects? ›

Persimmon does not present any serious side effects when eaten in moderation. However, certain individuals may be allergic to these fruits and exhibit symptoms of upset stomach, nausea, or in grave circ*mstances, even an anaphylactic shock and must hence avoid eating persimmon.

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.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating persimmon? ›

The persimmon bezoar forms due to the exposure of the soluble tannin called shibuol to gastric acid, which causes polymerization into a coagulative cellulose-protein. Persimmon bezoars can cause ulcers, gastric outlet obstruction, and intestinal obstruction.

When should you not eat persimmons? ›

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. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of Japanese persimmon during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

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.

Can I eat banana and persimmon together? ›

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

Is persimmon bad for blood pressure? ›

Their colorful appearance indicates the presence of beta-carotene, a carotenoid antioxidant that has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease. They also contain flavonoid antioxidants, which have been linked to better heart health and lower blood pressure, inflammation and "bad" LDL cholesterol.

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 pairs well with persimmon? ›

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.

How many persimmons should I eat a day? ›

Eating one medium-sized persimmon (about 100 grams) a day is enough to help fight atherosclerosis, says Gorinstein. She is quick to add that other fruits also help guard against heart disease and urges people to include them in their diet as well.

Can I freeze persimmons? ›

If you have a mature persimmon tree, you know it produces more fruit than you can consume fresh. But the good news is that there are ways to preserve them. You can freeze them, dry them, or turn them into jam.

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.

Should I 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.

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