Make Proscuitto-Wrapped Persimmons

Persimmons, I have been ridiculously in love with the taste since my very first bite, but the sweet mushiness a mess, this was a fruit I had to eat at home. But, little did I know that there are in actual fact multiple varieties, allow me to enlighten you:

The stump tomato-shaped and large leafed one we are all familiar of sighting is the “Fuyu“, which should be indulged once firm, another is the “Hachiya” which is a, longer, oblong shape (similiar to the shape of the persimon that I will be showcasing today), but it is necessary that that the Hachiya becomes completely ripened and soft and is more for use in cooking.

Today, we have in our hands the “Rojo Brillante” that is trademarked “Persimon®” and recognized as a special produce from Spain, exclusive to the Ribera del Xuquer Valley as well as being certified and protected by the Denomination of Origin (D.O) Ribera del Xuquer. The flavour of the Rojo Brilliante Persimon® is reminiscent to a slightly firm and crunchy cantalope-peach-mango hybrid.

A Persimon® is perfect for the holiday season as it is exclusively available from mid-October to January, eaten best as a naturally sweet and highly nutritious snack or add-in into your daily bowl of cereal… it’s also a treat savoury-wise as well! I experimented with a savoury snack opting our most familiar cantalope, wrapped in serrano ham with manchego cheese and watercress, I am most certainly a fan of the Persimon® version as it provides a more suitable balance to the sweetness.

Check out Vintage Mixer’s helpful seasonal produce guide for this month, here.

Also, fun facts about our ready-to-eat Persimon®:

Six grams of fibre are offered per fruit
Excellent source of Vitamin A and C
Contains potassium, magnesium and maganese and minerals
Can be enjoyed fresh like an apple, skin pre-peeled or sliced!

Now we begin the fun:

RECIPE: Persimon® Wrapped in Serrano Ham with Manchego and Watercress

Refreshing and refined, these hors d’oeurve parcels are perfect for any occasion. The sweet, juicy flavour of the Persimon® pairs perfectly with the richness of the Manchego and peppery Watercress.

Ingredients:

6 slices Serrano ham
1 Persimon, cut into 12 wedges
1/2 cup (125 ml) Watercress
1/3 cup (75 ml) Manchego cheese, sliced into 12 equal pieces

Steps:
1. Cut Serrano ham in half lengthwise. Place a Persimon® wedge on top of a strip of ham.
2. Place a few pieces of watercress on one side of the Persimon®. Add one piece of cheese on top of the watercress and wrap.

Makes 12

PER SERVING (1 wedge): 41 calories, 2 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 160 mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrates, 1 g fibre, 2 g sugars, 3 g protein. % RDI: 4% calcium, 0% iron, 2% vitamin A, 2% vitamin C.

Speckled with natural “sugar freckles“, these are a sign of sweetness!

Order: Lay out the Serrano ham, stack a stick of manchego, watercress and persimon wedge, then wrap. The natural tackiness of the ham will hold it tight until the bite!

Two ways to cut your persimon: horizontally to reveal the star pattern or vertically.

A treat of a mid-day snack, we laid out the Persimon® wrapped stacks on smears of Maille Balsamic Vinegar glaze and paired it along side with a cocktail of soda, rum and dashes of Original Lemo Lemonade. This was simply the best combination!

And, Voila, that was quick and easy. I am sure glad that I had the opportunity to discover and expirement with Persimon®, they have a list of recipes here, there’s sweet in a parfait, savoury in topping a pork chop with Persimon® chutney and even sushi bites!

Pick up a box of this truly special fruit and try it for yourself this holiday at your local Sobeys and Metro – anything you create, it’ll be a true crowd pleaser.

***Join the fun: Tag & follow @PersimonSays and post a picture of your Persimon drink or dish creation with the hashtag #TryaPersimon on Twitter to be entered to win 1 of 3 $100 gift cards!

Learn more about Persimon® at http://persimonsays.com/.