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

  • Recipes
  • Seasonal Recipes
  • Fall Recipes

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.

Editorial Guidelines

Updated on September 25, 2023

Trending Videos

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.

26 Pomegranate Recipes You'll Want to Make All Through the Fall

01of 14

Persimmon Tart

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (5)

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.

02of 14

Persimmon and Bresaola Bites

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (6)

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.

03of 14

Persimmon Compote

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (7)

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.

View Recipe

04of 14

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.

View Recipe

05of 14

Persimmon, Beet, and Citrus Salad

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (9)

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.

View Recipe

06of 14

Frozen Persimmon Custard

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (10)

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.

07of 14

Pork With Persimmons and Mustard Greens

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (11)

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.

View Recipe

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.

View Recipe

09of 14

Broiled Persimmons With Mascarpone

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (13)

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.

View Recipe

10of 14

Caramelized Persimmons With Prosciutto

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

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

View Recipe

11of 14

Steamed Persimmon Pudding

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (15)

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.

View Recipe

12of 14

Persimmon Fruit Leather

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (16)

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

View Recipe

13of 14

Persimmon and Escarole Salad

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (17)

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

View Recipe

14of 14

Persimmon White Chocolate Bread Pudding

14 Persimmon Recipes That Put This Underrated Fall Fruit Center Stage (18)

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.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

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 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!

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.

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.

Does persimmon have any health side effects? ›

When taken by mouth: Japanese persimmon is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken as a medicine. 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.

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 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 good for the kidneys? ›

Eating one American persimmon can easily be incorporated into a kidney-friendly diet. Persimmons are also naturally low in phosphorus and fat.

What can I do with too much persimmon? ›

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 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.

Do 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.

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 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.”

What is the closest fruit to a persimmon? ›

Persimmons are a tree fruit related to the date plum, the black sapote, and the mabolo.

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.

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 good for gut? ›

Persimmons may promote a healthy digestive system.

Fiber may help you with your digestive system. Luckily, persimmons have a healthy dose of fiber! Healthy amounts of fiber may prevent constipation and help regulate your bowel movements.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Last Updated:

Views: 5515

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner

Birthday: 1994-06-25

Address: Suite 153 582 Lubowitz Walks, Port Alfredoborough, IN 72879-2838

Phone: +128413562823324

Job: IT Strategist

Hobby: Video gaming, Basketball, Web surfing, Book restoration, Jogging, Shooting, Fishing

Introduction: My name is Rev. Porsche Oberbrunner, I am a zany, graceful, talented, witty, determined, shiny, enchanting person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.