Skip to main content
Epicurious

Watercress and Persimmon Salad With Champagne Vinaigrette

4.7

(4)

The best Thanksgiving side dishes include this watercress and persimmon salad.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

Fuyu persimmons, which resemble tomatoes in shape, are best enjoyed while still firm and slightly crisp. The sweet, meaty wedges make a gorgeous counterpoint to the tangle of peppery greens.

This recipe was developed for Gourmet magazine's December 2009 issue. Unfortunately, Gourmet was shuttered before that issue was published. So in 2018, we dug up the entire Christmas menu and posted it here.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 min

  • Yield

    8 servings

Ingredients

3 Tbsp Champagne vinegar
2 Tbsp minced shallot
1 tsp grated lemon zest
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 firm-ripe Fuyu persimmons
16 cups watercress (from 2 bunches), tough stems discarded

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Whisk together vinegar, shallot, zest, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper in a small bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until combined well.

    Step 2

    Peel persimmons and cut into ⅓-inch-thick wedges. Toss watercress with persimmons and enough vinaigrette to coat, then season with salt and pepper.

  2. Do Ahead

    Step 3

    Vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.

TagsSaladPersimmonFruitWatercressLeafy GreensVegetableSideDinnerLunchDairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreeVegetarianQuickEasy5 Ingredients or FewerGourmet

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Passion Fruit Curd
Tangy and sunny, this curd can be made with either fresh or frozen pulp.
10-Minute Broccoli in Garlic Sauce
This easy broccoli stir-fry uses a genius two-step cooking technique of searing the veg for color, then steaming it in a concentrated broth to tenderize.
Charred Cabbage With Shrimp Paste Butter
A little shrimp paste goes a long, long, long way in this delicious vegetable dish.
Paloma Slushy
Frozen into a slushy, the classic tequila and grapefruit cocktail becomes even more refreshing.
Jammy Grape Galette
We don’t bake with grapes as often as we should. But even the most average supermarket varieties come alive when roasted with a bit of sugar and seasoning.
Crisp Roast Duck
This easy roast duck makes for a lovely holiday centerpiece—it’s also pretty easy to cook.
Sheet-Pan Sausage With Corn, Peach, and Cucumber Salad
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.
Candied Yams
With a buttery bourbon glaze, this Gourmet legend requires just four ingredients.