All About Persimmons

[Talia]

It’s persimmon season, and with it come the common questions of “how do I eat them?” and “why?”

In Healing with Whole Foods, nutrition expert Paul Pitchford explains a full range of healing properties that persimmons offer, including their cooling thermal nature. “Cools heat, especially lung heat; builds body fluids, moistens the lungs and resolves phlegm; tonifies the spleen-pancreas; soothes mucous membranes in the digestive tract to relieve gastrointestinal inflammations; treats common hot and/or dry conditions such as often occur in thirst, canker sores, and chronic bronchitis.”

You’ve probably seen recipes for persimmon jam, persimmon salad, and perhaps the most common: persimmon pudding. Rather than loading this autumnal dessert with butter and sugar, you may want to opt for a healthier version this time. In Victoria Boutenko’s Green for Life, she offers a simple, raw, vegan recipe for persimmon cinnamon pudding, and all you’ll need is a blender!

Persimmon Cinnamon Pudding

Blend well:

5-6 ripe persimmons, any variety

2 cups chard

1 banana

2-3 tablespoons water

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

~yields 1 quart~

[djd]

I enjoy just eating them as they are.  My only problem is determining which variety they are so I know whether or not to wait until they are mushy.

[Jayna]

sounds like I need to be eating lots of persimmon to help get rid of this lingering cold! I'll look for them at the store/farmer's market; then I'll be sure to try out this recipe- looks like it would be delicious : )