Although many fruit trees, such as apples and pears, don’t grow in Louisiana, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that persimmons flourish here. And so I planted a persimmon tree in my backyard which has led to lots of enjoyment over the years.
The persimmons on my tree grow and ripen only every other year. So I have to be ready on even numbered years with recipes and ways to use the fruit — along with possums living in my back yard who don’t really care how the persimmons are prepared. I’ve learned to pick the fruit while still green and let them ripen on my kitchen table. Here are some of the recipes which I have made using persimmons.