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Even fruits can have a split personalityPersimmons fall into two main branches of the family tree. Both are edible but one is crunchy and one is soft and squishy. The most common of the crunchy persimmons is the Fuyu and the softer variety is personified in the Hachiya. Both can be eaten raw but the best one for baking is the pulpy Hachiya and the best one for salads is the crisp Fuyu. The Fuyu is easy to slice or dice and has practically no seeds. The round and flattish Fuyu keeps up to two weeks, sometimes longer. Buy them when they are shiny, orange and firm. They make a great salad, tossed with salad greens and walnuts with a vinaigrette dressing. They can also be cooked on a grill and added to salads or used as a dessert with ice cream. The Hachiya is heart-shaped and quite astringent, almost inedible unless it is left at room temperature until it colors to a deep orange and becomes so soft you can almost leave an indented thumbprint in the flesh. At this point, sucking out the sweet pulp is close to heaven (but looks horrific). It is time then to make persimmon pudding, cookies, bread or flan. The sweet pulp is great, too, in smoothies. If you want to save some for making a steamed Christmas pudding, freeze the pulp. Quick and Easy Persimmons Tricks 1. Freezing Hachiya persimmons is easy when they are so fragile that they nearly turn to juice. Freeze by placing the fruits on a baking sheet in the freezer until they harden. Then wrap in plastic wrap while they're hard and freeze them in a sealed plastic bag until you want to bake with the pulp. 2. Mash ripe Hachiya persimmons on toasted whole grain bread for a creamy, naturally sweet jam. 3. Use chopped dried persimmons instead of raisins in breads and cookies. 4. Slice ripe Fuyus and combine with endive spears or other greens and lightly toasted pecans. Lemon juice or a light vinaigrette (see below) dress the salad nicely. 5. Serve slices of Fuyus with peppery watercress or other salad green and pomegranate seeds. (To keep the pomegranate juice from turning you into a bloody mess, cut a pomegranate in half and remove seeds underwater, discarding the membranes). 5. Wrap slices of Fugues with thin slices of prosciutto or salami or ham and serve as a hors d'ouvre or appetizer. Persimmons Like This Dressing Toss Fuyu slices with lettuce, feta cheese and toasted nuts.
Combine all ingredients. Makes about 1/2 cup. Grilled Persimmons Serve with pork chops, pork roast or duck. They're also good added warm to spinach or a salad.
Slice persimmons crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Remove seeds with tip of knife. Place slices in a bowl and toss with olive oil. Rub the cleaned grill with olive oil. Place slices directly on the grill or in a single layer in a grilling basket. Grill until slightly golden and softened, about 3 minutes. Turn and grill the other side until golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature. Makes 4 servings. Lemon Glazed Persimmon Bars Use fresh or frozen pulp from Hachiya persimmons. You can make these delicious bars anytime of year.
Glaze: 1 cup confectioners sugar
Preheat oven to 350 F. with rack in the middle position. Butter and flour a 15 x 10-inch rimmed baking sheet, 1-inch deep. Discard stem and leaves from each persimmon, and then force persimmons 1 at a time through a medium sieve into a bowl, using a spatula to press the fruit. Discard the solids. Transfer 1 cup of the puree to a small bowl. Stir in lemon juice and baking soda. (Mixture will become foamy and then jell slightly.) Sift together flour, salt and spices. Whisk together egg, sugar, oil and dates or dried cranberries, until just combined. Add flour mixture and persimmon mixture alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and stirring until just combined. Stir in nuts. Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean; about 20 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack. Glaze and Cut: Stir together all ingredients until smooth; spread over cooled bars. Cut into any size you wish. If you cut crosswise into 8 strips, then lengthwise into fourths you will find 32 bars. Fuju and Hachiya are sisters under the skin!
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