Persimmons have only made it into UK pop culture quite recently. But unconventionally, when I was growing up, my mum used to buy them – they were a constant in our winter fruit bowl. I have no idea when or why she would have first eaten them, but she loved them. It’s one of the many things I wish I had asked her.
There are two types of persimmon commonly found in British supermarkets: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons have a crisp texture like an apple and can be eaten before they are fully ripe. On the other hand, Hachiya persimmons need to fully ripen before eating – they need to be almost jelly-soft to the touch. If not, you’ll find them far too astringent to eat. But once they’re fully ripe and juicy, their sweetness is unmatched, hard to compare to anything else.
The sweetness of a persimmon can stand up against some pretty bold flavours – radicchio and gorgonzola are gorgeous pairings with it.
PERSIMMON, RADICCHIO & GORGONZOLA SALAD WITH A SHALLOT & DATE DRESSING
It's sweet, salty, bitter – it's a delightful winter salad.
Ingredients
- 40 g hazelnuts
- 1 radicchio leaves separated (if you can get the Castelfranco variety, even better)
- 2 very ripe persimmons sliced
- 150 g gorgonzola sliced or crumbled into chunks
- salt & freshly ground black pepper
DRESSING
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 small shallot very finely sliced into rounds
- 2 dates very finely sliced
Instructions
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Start by making the dressing. Combine the olive oil, white wine vinegar, mustard and a good pinch of salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed. Add the sliced shallot and dates to the dressing, and stir to combine. Allow to macerate for 15 minutes.
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Meanwhile, toast the hazelnuts in a small frying pan over a low-medium heat, until golden. Allow to cool, then roughly chop.
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Layer the radicchio, persimmon, gorgonzola, hazelnuts and dressing on a serving dish, or between plates. Finish with a grind of black pepper and little flaky salt, before devouring.
If you’re looking for more sweet and salty winter recipes, you’ll love my homemade Ginger Nuts with Stilton & Pear. Or, if you’re looking for more recipe inspiration, check out my Instagram.
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