(NEW!) Most Exciting Salad for Thanksgiving
The flavors in this Persimmon Pomegranate Salad are so fresh and vibrant – they just pop! It’s a very exciting salad combining the sweetness of persimmon with a tangy lime dressing.
It almost tastes like a fruit salad combined with a salsa, but it’s amazing and so memorable. Make this for your holiday celebrations and you will get recipe requests for it.
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Pomegranate seeds look so festive for the Holidays, like in my Pomegranate Christmas Cake and Winter Fruit Salad, and so they are the perfect complement to the sweet persimmon in this salad making it a perfectly festive side dish.
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad Video
Watch me combine 2 of my favorite winter fruits in this persimmon pomegranate salad recipe. If you’ve never tried persimmon, you’re in for a treat!
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad Recipe
Persimmon is one of my favorite winter fruits along with pomegranate and this salad combines the best of both worlds. My Parents grow persimmon in their yard and this year they picked over 1,500 fruits from their 2 trees, so I got busy making persimmon recipes. Next on my list is my Persimmon Bread.
My sister-in-law, Alina, told me about this salad her friend Julia made for a Friendsgiving, and it was everyone’s favorite. Of course, I had to get the recipe and, Julia if you’re reading this, thank you for sharing your brilliant salad with me.
I didn’t see a photo of Julia’s salad before I made and photographed it, so I’m sure mine probably looks different but the flavors are on point. Julia also used lemon juice and I subbed with lime juice, so it’s safe to say that lemon juice is a great substitute if that is what you have on hand.
Ingredients for Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
- Fuyu Persimmons – You’ll need 2 lbs. Choose persimmons that are firm without bruises and are mostly round. You can usually find them in the store from October until January.
- Jalapeños and Red Onions – chop and slice these and remove the seeds from the jalapeño.
- Cilantro – this herb gives the salad so much freshness, but if you don’t prefer cilantro, you can substitute it with fresh mint.
- Pomegranate seeds – also called Pomegranate Arils. See my tutorial on how to cut a pomegranate. It takes under a minute! Or you can purchase the seeds in the produce aisle.
- Lime juice – balances the sweetness of the persimmon. You can also substitute lemon juice.
What’s the difference between Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons??
Persimmons come in two main varieties ; Fuyu and Hachiya, and Fuyu is better for this salad. Hachiya are astringent or bitter when un-ripe with a jelly-like center (I’m not a fan). Fuyu persimmon look similar to an orange tomato with flat bottoms and taste sweet, like a cross between an apple and a pumpkin, and they can be enjoyed even when firm.
How to Cut Persimmon for Salad
Use a spoon to remove the firm leafy tops from the persimmon. Do not use a knife, which can slip and I’ve broken a knife tip trying to remove a persimmon top before. Get under it with a teaspoon and it pops off easily.
Once the top is removed, cut in half from top to bottom. They are usually seedless but occasionally contain a black seed which you can discard then slice into thin wedges.
How to Make Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
This Persimmon Pomegranate salad comes together without much fuss, just slice and toss. It’s the perfect easy side dish for your holiday menu.
- Marinate the Jalapeño and Onion – Squeeze the lime juice over the sliced red onion and chopped jalapeños. This will soften the veggies slightly and take a bit of the bite out of the onion.
- Add the fruit – Add cut persimmon, pomegranate arils and cilantro to the salad bowl.
- Add the dressing – drizzle the olive oil over the salad mixture, season to taste with salt and pepper, and toss. Serve right away or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
What to Serve with Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
Wouldn’t this look incredible on your Thanksgiving table? I love the colors and the light, fresh flavor! This salad really brightens up a holiday menu. It’s also so quick and easy to make, that it would work well as a weeknight or weekend salad. Try it with these main dishes:
Make-Ahead
This salad will look the most vibrant the same day it is made, but the salad does keep well. The persimmon will soften slightly as it sits in the refrigerator and will take on the texture of mango slices but wow is it delicious after the flavors meld. You’ll love every bite!
- Make Ahead – If you want to make it a few hours ahead of your dinner, cover the finished salad and refrigerated until ready to serve then garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro to freshen it up.
- Refrigerate Leftovers – Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Try this unique Persimmon Pomegranate Salad at your next Holiday potluck. It’s an easy tangy-sweet salad using in-season fresh fruit and veggies. I know it will be a favorite dish you’ll make all season long.
More Winter Salad Recipes
Like in this Persimmon Pomegranate Salad, there’s nothing like fresh produce in the middle of winter. These winter salads use the best of the season’s fruit and veggies for show-stopping dishes your whole family will love.
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Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
Add this Persimmon Pomegranate Salad to your holiday menu for a fresh side dish your guests will rave about! The sweet winter fruits are perfectly balanced with the tangy cilantro-lime dressing. The whole dish comes together in minutes, so it works perfectly for a potluck or party. I know you’ll love this dish!
Servings: 8 servings
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Slice onion and finely chop jalapeño and set in a large salad mixing bowl. Squeeze the lime juice over then stir to combine and set aside to marinate while you prepare the rest of your salad.
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Slice persimmons into thin segments and add them to the salad serving bowl. Top with chopped cilantro and pomegranate seeds.
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Drizzle the salad with olive oil and season with salt and pepper then toss to combine. Add more lime juice or salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with more cilantro or pomegranate seeds if desired.
Leftovers – the salad looks the most vibrant when it’s freshly made, but you can store leftovers for 24 hours in the fridge in an airtight container.
331kcal Calories58g Carbs2g Protein13g Fat
Nutrition Facts
Persimmon Pomegranate Salad
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
Saturated Fat
Polyunsaturated Fat
Monounsaturated Fat
Potassium
Carbohydrates
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
