Eat Christmas Fruit Salad, the Anti-Cookie Post

While the judges are eat--, I mean judging the cookies, I thought you'd like this light, refreshing fruit salad. I figure if I eat just this and drinks lots of water for the next four days, I might come close to evening out the number of cookie calories I've consumed over the last couple of weeks.

Though summer fruits typically get all the glory, many of winter's fruits are jewels. This simple salad combines some of the most colorful, flavorful, and antioxidant-rich wintertime fruits available. Feel free to substitute as you prefer: pears, pineapple, and bananas are always good too. The simple yet zippy citrus-honey glaze balances the sweetness of the fruit, while the mint and cinnamon add some spiciness. It's dressy enough for a special breakfast or brunch yet simple enough that Jeff and I have it regularly as a post-workout complex-carb boost.


Winter Jewel Fruit Salad with Honey-Citrus Glaze
Serves 4
Print recipe only here.

Salad:
1 navel orange, peeled, sectioned, and chopped
1 Braeburn or Fuji apple, unpeeled and chopped
1 Fuyu persimmon, cut into wedges
1 mango, peeled and diced
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
the seeds of 1/2 large pomegranate

Glaze:
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp clover honey

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon, or more if you prefer
5-6 fresh mint leaves, chiffonade

Combine the fruit in a medium size bowl. Whisk the lemon juice and honey in a small bowl and pour over fruit. Toss gently until well combined.

Just prior to serving, dust with ground cinnamon and garnish with mint.


You might also like:
Persimmon and Pomegranate Salsa
Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Sicilian Salad of Fennel, Oranges, and Olives
Fiery Shrimp with Avocado-Pomegranate-Tangerine Salsa over Soft Polenta


Save This Page on Del.icio.us

Fuyu Part 2: Boneless Pork Chop with a Persimmon and Pomegranate Salsa

Last week I made a persimmon and date bread with super-ripe Hachiya persimmons. To be a fair and balanced blogger, today I've got a savory dish using Fuyu persimmons -- the rotund ones.

Firm Fuyus can be eaten like an apple; they taste like one too -- mildly sweet but with hints of cinnamon. Fuyu persimmons are ideal for savory dishes, such as salads and salsas, where they add color, flavor, and texture.

The first time I made this salsa, I used just persimmons and no onion, and I thought it needed a bit more splash. This time I added some savory scallions and tart pomegranate seeds. It was pleasingly splashier in both taste and presentation. This refreshing salsa pairs especially well with pork, though it would be good with roasted turkey, grilled lamb, or a mild white fish, such as mako shark (which Jeff had and loved last night).

I'm submitting this post to Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen, the founder and this week's host of the ever popular Weekend Herb Blogging. Persimmons aren't just pretty, they're nutritional powerhouses too--especially high in potassium, lutein (for ocular health), and lycopene (a cancer fighting antioxidant).


Boneless Pork Chops with
Persimmon and Pomegranate Salsa
Serves 4
Print recipe only here.

Salsa:
Makes about 1 1/4-1 1/2 cups

2 Fuyu persimmons, with the skins on, diced (about 1 heaping cup)
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
2 Tbsp thinly sliced scallions
1 tsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
Salt, to taste
1/2 tsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1/2 tsp fresh basil, finely chopped

4 boneless pork chops
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

For the salsa, place all ingredients from persimmons through salt in a medium size bowl. Stir until well combined. If serving within an hour, then add fresh basil and mint so the flavors will mingle. Otherwise, do not add the herbs (since they will turn brown) and place in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 hours. (Letting the salsa sit much longer makes it taste too astringent.)

Note: If you don't prefer the intensity of raw onions, then place the minced onions in a small-mesh colander and pour very hot or boiling water over them; drain and add to the salsa. This will remove some of their sting without sacrificing flavor.

For the pork, drizzle the olive oil on both sides of each chop and season with salt and pepper. Either grill the chops or cook on the stove top. Or for the best of both worlds, do what I did: use a grill pan on the stove top which creates those attractive sear marks but allows you to stay in the kitchen. Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side, or until well browned and cooked throughout.

Serving suggestion:
Place pork chops on top of cooked quinoa or couscous, then top with 1/4 of the salsa. Repeat with remaining 3 dishes. Garnish with additional herbs, if desired. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette would be a nice accompaniment.

Reminder: Eat Christmas Cookies. Please check out the updated Eat Christmas Cookies post. There are several delicious treats there already. You have until December 24th to post, but try to submit by the 17th if possible so others can try your cookies. :) Click here for full details.

You might also like:

Fiery Shrimp with Avocado-Pomegranate-Tangerine Salsa served over Soft Polenta
Swordfish with Pineapple-Mango Salsa
Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Kumquats
Mexican Citrus Salad with an Orange-Lime Vinaigrette

Save This Page on Del.icio.us