Sheet Pan

Poached Persimmon, Asian Pear, Pomegranate Salad with Blue Cheese and Spiced Candied Walnuts

by:
November 15, 2009
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

This recipe was first inspired by The Tante Marie Cooking School Cookbook. The addition of candied walnuts and blue cheese are two components I like in other salads I've had at restaurants. I decided to poach the persimmon in a ginger simple syrup when I realized it was too astringent for my taste. The pomegranate salad dressing was inspired by all those little tasty jewels I so meticulously picked out without getting my white t-shirt stained :) —nieceboo

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Ingredients
  • Salad
  • 4 handfuls Spring Mix
  • 1 apple pear thinly sliced
  • 1 persimmon (fuyu)
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/2 cup Maytag blue cheese
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate vinaigrette
  • 3/4 cup spiced candied walnuts
  • Candied Walnuts and pomegranate vinaigrette
  • 1 cup blanched walnuts
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
  • 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
Directions
  1. Make candied walnuts first. Mix 2T sugar, cinnamon, and cayenne in a bowl and set aside. In a saute pan, heat brown sugar and water until sugar is dissolved and begins to thicken.
  2. Add blanched walnuts and half of the spice mixture and toss in pan until coated. Spread on a sheet pan and sprinkle with remaining spice mixture.
  3. Prepare pomegranate vinaigrette. In a blender, combine 1/4 c of pomegranate seeds, raspberry vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, and agave nectar. Blend.
  4. Slowly add vegetable oil in a steady stream until blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Remove the skin from the persimmon. Slice about 3/4 inch thick and lightly poach in simple syrup (1/2 c sugar, 1/2 c water, 2T ginger) until softened. Drain and cool. You can skip this step and just used raw, sliced persimmons.
  6. In a bowl toss springs mix and pomegranate vinaigrette, persimmons, apple pears, and remaining pomegranate seeds. Top with spiced candied walnuts, and blue cheese.

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2 Reviews

nieceboo November 17, 2009
Thanks! Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding the great persimmons my mother would get-they could still be a little hard and didn't pucker your mouth. The poaching did not take away the astringent taste but I would still poach a nice ripe one for the ginger flavor.
Skylor P. November 16, 2009
I can't get enough persimmons! I love them, great recipe!