Avocado, Persimmon, Watermelon Radish and Sweet Onion Salad with Honey Ginger Lime Dressing
Hey, we're having lots of fun in the kitchen over here! Watermelon radish and persimmon make a nice crunch and sweet/exotic juxtaposition -- not to mention the visual pleasures of the pairing -- and when combined with the yeilding oily flesh of a ripe Hass avocado, crisp sweet Vidalia onions and a dressing of lime, ginger and honey...what could be bad?
Avocado, Persimmon, Watermelon Radish and Onion Salad with Honey Ginger Lime Dressing
Serves 4.
1 Vidalia onion
1/2 tsp sugar
1 medium watermelon radish (If unavailable, substitute regular red radish.)
1 firm-ripe persimmon
2 ripe Hass avocados
4 T pine nuts
3/4" fresh ginger, peeled, minced
2 T fresh lime juice
6 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T honey
2 tsp blood orange zest
salt, hot sauce to taste
Peel the onion and with a knife (if you're very good) or a mandolin, slice paper thin. Immerse the onion in cool water to cover, mixed with the sugar. Soak 30 minutes and then drain.
Blanche the watermelon radish in rapidly boiling salted water 2 minutes. Drain and spray with cold water and then with a knife (if you're very good) or a mandolin, slice paper thin.
Core and peel the persimmon and slice in thin crescents. Cut the stem end ("eye") out of the avocados and slice in half longitudinally. Remove the seeds and cut the meat in thin slices.
Toast the pine nuts in a dry sauté pan over high heat, stirring, until browned and starting to char. Cool on a paper towel.
Mash the minced ginger on a cutting board with the side of a heavy knife. Place in a bowl with the lime juice, olive oil and honey. Whisk to emulsify. Correct seasoning with salt and hot sauce.
To assemble, lay out a bed of the onions, then fan out the avocados and radish slices. Add a clump of persimmons, a dribbling of the dressing and then scatter on the zest and pine nuts.
Comments
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Again, you read my mind. I've been pondering the use of persimmons in food recently. Was thinking of a persimmon mousse but have not thought it all out yet. Brlliant combo here.
Posted by: MM | March 07, 2006 at 12:46 AM
Lovely autumnal colours! I've had persimmon sliced for dessert, but salad sounds so much more interesting.
Posted by: Pille | March 07, 2006 at 04:54 AM
This is a winner. I love all ingredients. Never heard before of a watermelon radish?? What is it? Did you buy this at a local market??
It looks so fresh!
Posted by: Bea at La Tartine Gourmande | March 07, 2006 at 07:01 AM
Gorgeous recipe. I doubt I could find the watermelon radish or the persimmons around here, but it looks outstanding.
Posted by: Christiane | March 07, 2006 at 08:32 AM
Ok, so, you basically put all of my favorite things into one dish. Those watermelon radishes are BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by: Erin | March 07, 2006 at 03:15 PM
Amazingly creative! Really stunning. Next time I end up with a watermelon radish I will not just add it to a green salad...
Posted by: Amy | March 07, 2006 at 05:46 PM
nice...and so beautiful. i've never tried watermelon radish but now i must!
Posted by: Elle | March 07, 2006 at 06:45 PM
the watermelon radish looks awesome! i didn't even know there was such a thing. great recipe.
Posted by: yoony | March 08, 2006 at 02:11 PM