This persimmon Caprese salad is a vibrant and delicious fall salad recipe. Slices of sweet persimmon are added to a tomato, mozzarella and basil salad, giving this traditional Italian insalate Caprese a distinctive autumn twist.

long view caprese salad with persimmon and mozzarella

What are persimmons?

These beautifully vivid orange fruits are a typical autumn or fall fruit. Persimmons are now grown across the world, but their origin dates back to first being cultivated over 2000 years ago in China. They are fruits of the Diospyros tree and are in fact considered to be berries. Persimmons come in different varieties of which the most common fruits to eat are the Fuyu, Sharon fruit and the Rojo Brillante (Spanish persimmon or kaki fruit).

The colours of the persimmons range from yellow-orange to deep-red orange. The taste of a persimmon can be described as rich and sweet with notes of honey melon and apricot. Persimmons can be used in savory recipes in various ways; raw, cooked or grilled. A grilled persimmon salad brings out the lovely sweet tones of the fruit.

Which ingredients to use

While Caprese salad is a dish typically served in summer when tomatoes are in season, adding slices of persimmon fruit makes it a lovely autumn salad. As there is no cooking involved in this persimmon recipe you need to consider using only the best quality and freshest ingredients.

ingredients to make persimmon caprese salad with mozzarella

Persimmon fruit: Use the Spanish persimmon or fuyu persimmon in this dish. Make sure the persimmon is soft and ripe. The softer fruits have a delicious sweet taste and pair really well with the juicy tomatoes and soft mozzarella cheese.
Tomatoes: The key to this recipe is to use ripe and juicy tomatoes. I have used Roma tomatoes in combination with cherry tomatoes which makes this persimmon salad recipe even more playful.
Mozzarella: It is the soft mozzarella cheese kept in water that we are after, not the grated mozzarella cheese. I have used small mozzarella balls or bocconcini for this Caprese recipe, but you can use a larger mozzarella cheese chunk and cut it into thick slices if you prefer.
Olive oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour.
Balsamic reduction: I have used store bought balsamic glaze or reduction, which is generally easy to find in most larger supermarkets. You can also make your own with this balsamic glaze recipe.
Basil leaves: Fresh basil leaves are used for the most authentic flavour. Either dot them whole over the salad or gently tear the leaves into smaller pieces.
Salt and pepper: Freshly ground pepper, either black pepper or mixed peppercorns, and a good pinch of flaky seasalt or maldom salt is all this recipe needs.

close up wide persimmon caprese salad with basil and mozzarella

How to make persimmon Caprese salad

Note: All the exact quantities of the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

This Caprese salad with persimmons is very easy to make. Use the freshest ingredients you can find in order to get the best flavour in just a few simple steps:

Slice the persimmon: Start by removing the leafy top. Cut the fruit in half and thinly slice each half with a sharp knife. No need to remove the peel.
Prepare the tomato and mozzarella: Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and slice the Roma tomatoes in wedges or thin slices. You can leave the mozzarella balls whole or cut them in half, which is what I prefer. If you use a larger mozzarella ball, cut into thin slices.
Assemble the salad: Arrange the persimmon and tomato slices tile-wise on a plate. You can choose either a large serving plate for sharing or prepare a smaller plate per person. Spread the halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and fresh basil leaves evenly on top. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Season with freshly ground pepper and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

two plates of persimmon caprese salad on a blue plate

How to serve this persimmon salad

This persimmon recipe can be served either as a light lunch, as a side dish or as a starter. When serving as a side dish, rather use half the quantity. Serve as a side dish or starter with pasta, pizza or any other Italian, Mediterranean or Spanish recipes. Serve as a light lunch with some crusty bread, french loaf or this Spanish tomato bread.

As a recipe variation, consider using burrata cheese instead of mozzarella as a twist to this Burrata Caprese salad.

top view persimmon caprese salad with mozzarella on a blue plate

More fall salad recipes to try

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