Skip to main content

Spiced Persimmon Relish

Support Provided By
Spiced Persimmon Relish
Spiced Persimmon Relish

Blasphemy alert: I may leave the traditional cranberries off my table this Thanksgiving. You see, I've been thinking about the foods that I'm particularly grateful for this time of year, the fruits and vegetables grown by the people I know and love ... and as much as I like cranberries, they don't say much about life in Southern California. What does speak to autumn in SoCal is the persimmon, found in abundance at farmers' markets, U-Pick farms and, if you're lucky, generous neighbors' yards.

So, in celebration, I've come up with a persimmon relish that's sweet and vinegary, with a trace of spice. Like cranberry sauce, it wakes up the palate and provides a counterpoint to all the stuffing, potatoes, and other rich foods on the holiday table. Whether you serve this instead of or in addition to cranberries, you'll find it absolutely easy to make.

Spiced Persimmon Relish
Makes 2 cups

1/2 cup sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup water
1-inch slice of fresh ginger
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
1 whole star anise
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns, lightly cracked
4 Fuyu persimmons
1/4 cup dried currants
2 tablespoons chopped shallots

Combine the sherry vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add the water and bring the mixture just to a boil. Remove from heat and add the ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick, and peppercorns. Cool to room temperature and strain out the spices.

Peel and cut the persimmons into 1/4-inch dice. Combine in a bowl with the currants and shallots. Add the vinegar mixture and toss to coat.

Let stand at least 15 minutes before serving.

Support Provided By
Read More
A black and white photo of an adult dressed as the easter bunny with a giant costumed head, holding a little girl on their left who gives it a kiss on the cheek and, with his right arm, holding a little boy who brings his hands to his eyes as though wiping away tears.

Behold the Bunnies and Bonnets of L.A.'s Past Easter Celebrations

The onset of the spring season heralds the arrival of fragrant flowers in bloom — and all the critters that enjoy them, including the Easter bunny and families who anticipate his arrival with egg hunts, parades and questionable fashion choices.
A black and white image of an elephant holding a broom with its trunk. A man is seen near the elephant, walking towards the animal.

Lions and Tigers and Cameras! How the Movies Gave Los Angeles a Zoo

The early days of the movies in Los Angeles inadvertently allowed visitors to experience the largest collection of animals in the western United States. When animals weren't appearing in a movie, they were rented out to other film companies, performed for studio visitors, or in the case of filmmaker William Selig's collection — an opportunity to create one of Los Angeles' first zoos.
A vertical, black and white portrait of a blonde woman wearing a sparkly four-leaf clover costume as she holds her arms out and extends a leg as though in a curtsy.

Irish for a Day: L.A.'s History of 'Going Green' on St. Patrick's Day

Whether it was a parade, dance, tea party, home celebration or just enjoying a good ol' wee dram of whisky, here's a photo essay of how Los Angeles donned its green apparel to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and embrace the luck o' the Irish over the years.