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

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.

What to 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.

What fruit goes well with persimmon? ›

We love to pair persimmons with sweet and savory fall flavors like maple, honey, walnuts, beets, pomegranates, apples, kumquats, and pears—or keep it all sweet for a colorful, nutritious fruit salad.

How to tell if persimmon is bad? ›

An overripe persimmon tends to be mushy and may have dark, wrinkled skin. The color might be deeper than usual, and it could have an overly sweet, fermented smell.

What should you not eat with persimmon? ›

Tea and persimmon contain tannins, which have been found to make protein harder to digest. So when tea and persimmon are eaten with crab, which is rich in protein, we might experience indigestion.

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.

What happens to our body when we eat persimmons? ›

Persimmons contain flavonoid antioxidants and tannins, which benefit heart health by reducing blood pressure, lowering inflammation, and decreasing cholesterol levels.

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 you freeze persimmons for later use? ›

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.

How to get rid of astringency in 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 animal likes persimmon? ›

Of course, practically everyone knows opossums do. But persimmons are also gobbled up by other mammals such as rodents, white-tailed deer (they also eat the leaves and twigs), raccoons, foxes, black bears and skunks.

Can you eat persimmon raw? ›

How to eat a persimmon. Fuyu persimmons can be eaten raw or baked, Glass says. Once they're soft but firm, you can slice this variety and use it in ways you would use other sliced fruits like apples or pears this time of year. The Hachiya varieties have a little less flexibility because they're so soft.

What are the black dots in persimmon? ›

Black spot disease (BSD) in persimmon fruit, caused by Alternaria alternata, develops primarily in the high humidity environment beneath the calyx.

Which is better, Hachiya or Fuyu persimmon? ›

Hachiya (left) and Fuyu (right) are both locally grown persimmons that have beautiful cinnamon notes, perfect for fall. However, the Hachiya's texture is best when extremely ripe, almost jelly-like in texture, while the Fuyu can be eaten while hard, like an apple.

What is the difference between persimmons and Fuyu persimmons? ›

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.

Is two persimmons a day too much? ›

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.

Is it okay to eat a whole persimmon? ›

Enjoy a whole Fuyu persimmon by washing with water and eating it like an apple or slice off the top and cut into quarters. Hachiya persimmons are mostly used in baking and can be eaten by scooping the flesh out with a spoon. They taste best when very soft.

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.

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.

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