Fragrant yogurt and crunchy pumpkin seeds help make persimmons the perfect snack.

I’m a fruit fanatic, but as soon as it starts to get chilly, the idea of eating fresh berries no longer seems quite right. Instead, I begin to crave the sweet taste of permissions—the crunch of a Fuyu, sliced like an apple, or the creamy Hachiya, perfectly ripe and diced into a salad. Something about the earthy flavor and gritty texture of these orange orbs just feels like biting into a sunny winter day (their Autumn coloring doesn’t hurt either). While they are wonderful all alone, caramelizing the fruit brings out the rich, dark sugars in persimmons. This dish adds toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch and vanilla-infused Greek yogurt for a delicious low-fat base. As a simple, refreshing breakfast, or easy dessert, it’s a great way to enjoy persimmons (a clove-scented coconut panna cotta provides a pretty twist).

Caramelized Persimmons with Vanilla Yogurt
Servings: 2
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
1 Fuyu persimmon
¼ cup sugar
1 cup 2 percent Greek-style yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
½ vanilla bean

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the pumpkin seeds on a sheet tray and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until toasted and lightly browned. Remove the seeds from tray (to avoid carry over cooking) and reserve.

2. Slice the sides off the Fuyu, like an apple, avoiding the core. Slice into ¼-inch pieces and coat in sugar. Heat a non-stick sauté pan over medium-high heat and cook, allowing the sugar to caramelize and reach a dark brown color before turning over. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper or non-stick mat. Transfer persimmon slices to tray and let cool slightly.

3. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the yogurt. Whisk the honey and seeds into the yogurt. Scoop the yogurt into two bowls, and top with persimmon slices and pumpkin seeds.

Buttery, flaky pie dough enrobes crisp apples to create the perfect slice of pie. Sweet persimmons and rich coffee rum syrup give a twist to this fall classic.

 

 

 

Nothing says fall like apple pie. This year, try a variation on the classic by adding persimmons. An orange-red, pumpkin-shaped fruit, persimmons are available from October through December. Fuyus are the hard variety, sweet and crunchy like an apple. They can be eaten raw or cooked into jams, purees and baked goods. The heart-shaped persimmons are called Hachiya and should be eaten when they are very soft to the touch. They fruit can also be pureed and makes wonderful cookies.

 

Persimmons have a sweet, earthy flavor that adds depth to this apple pie. Adding a rum and coffee syrup brings notes of spice, earthiness and tang, giving a more complex flavor overall.

Apple and Persimmon Pie
Pastry Dough
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1/2 cup ice water

For the Filling
5 apples of your choice, Pink Ladies work well
5 medium size fuyu persimmons
1/4 cup spiced rum
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cup +2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp instant coffee powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove
1 tsp nutmeg
1 egg

1. Stir together flour, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the cubed butter, and using a pastry cutter or two forks, cut the butter into the dough, creating small pieces of butter mixed with the dries.

2. When the butter is fairly incorporated, add half of the ice water and mix together. Add more water until the dough just holds together. Form a ball with the dough, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3. While the dough is chilling, cut the apples and persimmons into 1/2-inch cubes. Heat the rum with the 1/2 cup of water and dissolve the coffee powder and 1 cup sugar in it. Add the liquid and spices to the fruit. Set aside.

4. Pre-heat then oven to 425 F with a sheet tray in the oven. Remove dough from the refrigerator and cut the ball into two pieces, re-wrapping one piece and placing it back into the fridge. Lightly flour your workspace and roll the dough out to 13-inch round. Spray a pie pan with cooking spray and lay the dough into the pan, pressing down into the corners of the pan. Trim the overhang of the dough with a pair of kitchen shears, leaving a 1/2-inch rim. Place the lined  pan in the refrigerator and remove the second piece.

5. Re-flour your work surface and roll the second piece of dough out to a 13-inch round. Whisk the egg together, and, using a pastry brush, lightly coat the dough. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tbsp sugar. Using a round cutter or cup, cut out circles of the dough.

6. Remove the lined pie pan from the fridge and place the apple filling into the pan, pushing down to create an even, flat top surface. Carefully lift the dough circles with an offset spatula and layer them onto the top of the pie, like fish scales. Cover the entire pie.

7. Place the pie on the hot sheet tray and bake for 20 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 350 F and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Cool pie to room temperature. Freeze to enjoy later, or slice and serve with vanilla ice cream on a chilly fall day.