Persimmon Pomegranate Fruit Salad

A Fresh Side Dish for Thanksgiving: Persimmon Pomegranate Fruit Salad ~ Localicious

What if our Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving meal was all about freshness and local, healthy foods instead of overeating? Ok, it is Thanksgiving, so maybe a little overeating with a side of fresh and healthy. That’s doable, right?

Take a field trip to the farmers market

For the freshest and healthiest ingredients, take the family on a field trip to your local farmers market. Mind social distancing guidelines and invite family members to pick out ingredients to create a healthy Thanksgiving side dish. Instead of the usual sides, try something new this year like roasting butternut squash, using fresh sweet potatoes in the casserole, or adding persimmons to the fruit salad. Farmers’ markets are an ideal place to explore and let kids pick out new seasonal foods to try.

One of my favorite fall side dishes that is a great complement to the Thanksgiving meal is persimmon salad with Fuyu persimmons, pomegranate seeds, chopped apple, lemon juice, local honey, and fresh mint leaves. This fruit salad is seasonal, simple, colorful, and eye-catching in addition to being loaded with fresh flavors. The crunchy persimmon and apple pieces, the pomegranate seeds bursting with flavor, and the light freshness of the mint really make this salad a nice contrast to the heavy and rich flavors of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Kids of all ages can help prepare parts of this dish and many of the ingredients can be found at farmers’ markets throughout the North State this time of year.

Pick the ripest persimmons and pomegranates

If you are not sure how to pick a ripe persimmon or pomegranate, ask a farmer at the market. They are usually more than happy to talk with you about what they grow. Gurmeet Dhillon of Dhillon Farms sells a variety of produce at farmers’ markets in the North State and says to look for a pomegranate that is cracked slightly on the sides to indicate it is ripe and the seeds inside are full of that delicious bright pink pomegranate juice.

There are two varieties of persimmons: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are firm and can be eaten right off the tree like an apple, while Hachiya persimmons are best used for baking. When picking out a Fuyu persimmon, Gurmeet recommends looking for a firm texture with an orange color.
If you are not sold on branching out and trying something new this year, many of the traditional Thanksgiving ingredients can also be found at farmers’ markets in the fall.

You can get locally grown potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, freshly made rolls, and pies. Some farmers’ markets even have meat vendors. You may be able to get a fresh local turkey for your family to gobble down.

If you are ready to try a fresh and healthy Thanksgiving side dish, the persimmon pomegranate fruit salad is a locally sourced crowd pleaser. Enjoy some of the beautiful North State fall weather with your family and head down to the farmers’ market to pick up some of the season’s best offerings to make your Thanksgiving a little healthier.

Persimmon Pomegranate Fruit Salad

Makes 4-6 servings
• 3 Fuyu persimmons
• 2 pomegranates
• 1 granny smith apple
• 15 fresh mint leaves
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp local honey

Remove seeds from pomegranates and place in a medium bowl. This is a great activity for kids to help with, but be careful! Pomegranate juice stains! There are a few ways to get the seeds out, but my favorite is to cut the pomegranate into quarters, give my kids a bowl of water, and let them dig the seeds out. The membranes float to the top and the seeds sink to the bottom of the bowl.
Peel and dice persimmons into 1/2 inch chunks. Add to the bowl with pomegranate seeds.
Peel and dice the apple into 1/2 inch chunks. Add to the bowl.
Tear mint leaves and add to the bowl.
Drizzle mixture with honey and lemon juice.
Mix thoroughly.

Enjoy! This can last a few days in the fridge but is best eaten fresh.

Hillside Poms
Pick your own for super-fresh pomegranates!
Hillside Poms invites guests to pick their own or purchase a pre-picked box of delicious, chemical-free pomegranates to juice, jelly, or eat fresh. As a family-owned farm, Hillside Poms welcomes families with children of all ages. Text or call to schedule a picking and juicing time, or arrange for a pre-picked box ready to take. Tuesday & Thursday 1-5 pm, Wednesday 8 am-noon, Saturday & Sunday 8 am-5 pm. Closed Fridays. 1271 Capay Rd, Corning – (530) 228-3050. Visit them on Facebook for the latest updates.

Julia’s Fruit Stand
Fresh, delicious pomegranates, plus apples, pumpkins, and much more!
Open seven days a week, 8 am-6 pm, Julia’s is known for its selection of just-picked fresh fruits and vegetables, always in season and always tasty! 11475 Hwy 99E, Los Molinos. (530) 354-4775. Follow Julia’s Fruit Stand on Facebook.

Localicious is a monthly column celebrating food in the  North State. If you would like to suggest a food-related business or organization, email us at localicious@northstateparent.com.