This Spinach and Persimmon Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing is prepared in simply quarter-hour and pairs properly with any most important dish—whether or not it is rooster, steak, seafood, pasta, or pizza. That includes toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and feta cheese, it’s an important alternative for fall and winter, highlighting recent, seasonal flavors. Take pleasure in persimmons from October by way of December, and think about including this salad to your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu!
How to decide on the correct of persimmon
Persimmons are an underrated fruit of fall and winter! They’re one among my all-time favourite fruits, nevertheless it’s essential to coach your self and know the distinction between the 2 most important varieties: Fuyu and Hachiya otherwise you’ll be disenchanted! Fuyu persimmons are brief and squat and will be eaten instantly—that is the variability you wish to purchase. In distinction, Hachiya persimmons are extra elongated and should be totally ripe to keep away from an astringent “cotton-mouth” feeling. Even when ripe, they’re higher suited to use in puddings, combined into yogurt, or made into sorbet, fairly than being eaten uncooked in a salad. Their creamy flesh makes them a preferred alternative for baked items like muffins, breads, and puddings. Personally, I do not look after Hachiya persimmons and don’t purchase them.
Fuyu persimmons on a plate.
What’s a persimmon?
Persimmons are shiny orange fruits with a clean pores and skin and a singular, candy taste that mixes hints of honey, mango, and apricot. There are two most important varieties: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are spherical and squat, related in form to a tomato, whereas Hachiyas are extra elongated. Learn on under to study extra about these varieties!
What’s the distinction between Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons?
- The Fuyu selection is non-astringent and will be eaten whereas nonetheless agency, making it good for salads! You may even take pleasure in it like an apple or peach, as its pores and skin is edible. Fuyu persimmons are brief and squat, usually formed like a flattened tomato.
- Alternatively, Hachiya persimmons are astringent and excessive in tannins, which may trigger a dry, puckering sensation and “cotton mouth” if eaten earlier than totally ripe. As soon as gentle, they turn into tender and candy, however it may be exhausting to know once they’re really prepared. Hachiya persimmons are longer and extra elongated, resembling a big acorn or teardrop. They’re taller and extra oval-shaped in comparison with the Fuyu selection. Many individuals, myself included, desire Fuyus for his or her ease and consistency.
The place are persimmons grown?
Persimmons originated in China however at the moment are grown in lots of international locations, together with Spain and the US. I personally fell in love with this fruit throughout a go to to Maui, Hawaii, the place I usually purchased them at native farmers’ markets!
When are persimmons in season?
Persimmons are a fall crop, usually ripening as early as mid-September and remaining out there for harvest till late December, typically extending into early the next yr.
Why you will love this persimmon salad
This fall-inspired salad options easy substances—spinach, persimmons, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans—and a do-it-yourself four-ingredient dressing of honey, lemon juice, olive oil, and Dijon mustard. Prepared in simply quarter-hour, it’s good for including a seasonal twist to your dinner rotation. Share it at Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings, however make sure to style the persimmon first to make sure you have the precise selection (it ought to be Fuyu selection – see extra on that above)! This versatile salad additionally works properly on busy weeknights or for entertaining; add your favourite protein like grilled rooster, salmon, or shrimp for a whole meal. Searching for extra salads with seasonal twists? Try my pear and pomegranate spinach salad or apple spinach salad.
What can you employ as a substitute of persimmons?
- Apples – particularly sweeter varieties like Fuji, Gala, Envy, or Honeycrisp.
- Pears – comparable to Bosc, Bartlett, or Asian pear. They’ve an identical agency texture and delicate sweetness.
- Mango has a honey-like, candy, and juicy texture when totally ripe.
- Yellow peaches or nectarines have a candy and juicy taste with a touch of tartness – an ideal substitute for persimmon!
Storage and make-ahead ideas
- Persimmon salad is greatest served instantly whereas it is freshest. Nonetheless, you possibly can put together it upfront by assembling the salad (with out the nuts and dressing) and refrigerating it for as much as 12 hours. Add the nuts and dressing simply earlier than serving.
- In case you have leftovers, the salad will be saved within the fridge for as much as 2 days. For the most effective outcomes, preserve the salad and dressing in separate containers.
Different fall-inspired salads that includes seasonal substances
- Spinach Salad with Sautéed Apples, Pecans, and Maple-Lime Dressing
- Christmas Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Pomegranate, and Cranberries
- Pear Spinach Salad
- Fall Pasta Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Maple-Lime Dressing
- Mango and Blueberry Spinach Salad
- Fall Harvest Salad with Pears, Apples, Butternut Squash, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, and Bacon
Spinach and Persimmon Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing
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Elements
Salad dressing
- ¼ cup additional virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice
Salad substances
- 1 cup pecan halves toasted
- 2 massive persimmons sliced (select Fuyu selection, not Hachiya – see the notes under for extra particulars)
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- 5 oz child spinach
- ⅓ cup feta cheese crumbled
Directions
Make the salad dressing
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Mix olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and freshly squeezed lemon juice in a mason jar. Whisk with a fork for 1-2 minutes till clean and emulsified.
Put together the salad substances
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Toast the pecans in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, simply till they flip a bit darker.
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Rinse the persimmon underneath cool water and take away the leafy prime with a pointy knife. The pores and skin is edible for non-astringent varieties like Fuyu, so you possibly can skip peeling. I left the pores and skin on – it provides fiber and is scrumptious! Slice the fruit into rounds or wedges.
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Soak dried cranberries in scorching water for a couple of minutes to make them gentle and juicy.
Assemble the salad
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Add child spinach to particular person salad bowls or a big serving dish. High with sliced persimmons, plumped cranberries, and crumbled feta. Add toasted pecans (some entire, some chopped) and drizzle generously with the dressing.
Notes
- Fuyu persimmons are brief, flat, and squat, formed like a tomato, and will be eaten instantly—that is the variability you wish to purchase.
- In distinction, Hachiya persimmons are extra elongated and should be totally ripe earlier than consuming; in any other case, they’ll depart an astringent, “cotton-mouth” sensation. I personally don’t love or purchase Hachiya persimmons.
- Check out the photograph under to see the Fuyu persimmons I used on this recipe. I additionally advocate doing a fast Google search to check the shapes of Fuyu and Hachiya—the distinction will be refined, however figuring out it can show you how to keep away from any disappointment!
Vitamin
Fuyu persimmon on a plate.
