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

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 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.

What can I do with too many persimmons? ›

One of the best options for copious amounts of any food is to freeze some for later. HalfPint suggests pureeing the persimmon pulp, putting it into plastic freezer bags to maximize your freezer space, and then making persimmon bread, smoothies, and steamed pudding with the thawed fruit pulp later on.

Can you eat the middle of a persimmon? ›

Cut the persimmon in half pole to pole. Use a knife to remove the white core of the fruit and discard it. Once the core has been removed you can either slice or dice the persimmon according to your recipe. The entire peel is edible.

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.

What should 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.

Should I eat persimmon skin? ›

For a sweet (Fuyu) persimmon, you should use them when they're still quite firm. Start by rinsing the fruit, removing the leaves, and slicing it like you would an apple into your desired shape. The peel is edible — so take a bite!

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.

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.

What does baking soda do to persimmons? ›

When persimmons are beaten to a pulp, tannins form complexes with carbohydrates, causing the pulp to stiffen to a gel-like consistency. When baking soda is added, a reaction with the moist and slightly acidic persimmon creates carbon dioxide (CO2), which also plays a role in encouraging the pulp to thicken.

Can I eat persimmon everyday? ›

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.

Why do you freeze persimmons? ›

Advice circulating the Internet recommends placing astringent Hachiya persimmons in the freezer for 24 hours to remove tannins and speed up the ripening process as an alternative to waiting several days for persimmons to ripen at room temperature.

How do you remove astringency from persimmons? ›

Storage at − 20 °C and − 80 °C temperatures up to 60 days has been found to be an effective method to remove astringency of persimmon fruits.

What is the best time to eat persimmon? ›

You can tell a persimmon is ripe when it's firm and orange or deep orange-red. Sweet persimmons taste best when they're crisp. A yellow persimmon is edible, but not fully ripe. Do not eat an unripe green persimmon.

What is the difference between Fuyu and persimmon? ›

Hachiya persimmons tend to be a little larger than Fuyu and are more acorn shaped. The main difference between Hachiya persimmons and Fuyus is that Hachiyas are extremely astringent until they are completely soft and ripe. If you bite into a hard, unripe Hachiya, you'll never forget it! Talk about mouth puckering.

How many persimmons can you 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 you eat too many persimmons in a day? ›

If you eat a lot of persimmons, it will increase the sediment, which is easy to become large particles that are difficult to get out, which can form large blocks and clog digestion. In particular, persimmons should not be eaten when hungry because then the acid will be more, the more easily it will be blocked.

Is 2 fruit a day too much? ›

You can eat too much of anything. But the truth is that it's hard to get too much fruit. In fact, most Americans don't eat enough of it. Adults should eat at least 1 ½ cups of fruit every day.

How many persimmons is a serving? ›

A typical portion is one average-sized persimmon. While persimmons are healthy, like all fruit, they are high in sugar. Pay attention to your intake as part of a balanced diet.

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