Ayesha Nurdjaja’s Persimmon & Shaved Fennel Salad

I’m not a huge fan of anise flavor, so with two very anise-y ingredients (fennel and tarragon), I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Ayesha Nurdjaja’s Persimmon & Shaved Fennel Salad! But my desire to try persimmons for the first time, combined with my trust that Ayesha wouldn’t steer me wrong, convinced me to dive in! I also learned there are several varieties of persimmons, with Fuyu being one of the easiest to find in the States. In fact, it was the only variety I could track down in Portland, so that’s what we went with! The persimmons are sliced into thin wedges and combined with shaved fennel and thinly sliced red onion. Everything gets tossed in a bright lemon, shallot, serrano, and tarragon dressing, then topped with salty, creamy feta, toasted walnuts, and fresh tarragon leaves. It has the refreshing lightness of a summer salad but using the best of fall produce. And despite my initial hesitation about the anise flavor, I loved how it came together! And turns out I’m a persimmon…