Walnuts wrapped in persimmons

Gotgamssam 곶감쌈

Hi everybody! I’m so excited to introduce you to a Korean dessert (or snack) called gotgamssam. You need only 2 ingredients: gotgam (dried persimmons) and hodu (walnuts)! I think this is a record for the fewest requirements needed to make one of my recipes. If someone asks me what else they need, I would say “strong fingers,” because you’re going to need to squeeze the wraps tightly to press the walnuts into the soft persimmons.

Dried persimmons are delicious by themselves, but if you feel like making a special dessert or snack for yourself or your guests without spending too much time preparing them, gotgamssam will be a perfect choice. For your guests, serve a few slices of gotgamssam with tea. They will be very impressed! And it will also be a good idea for a gift. Fill a small box with gotgamssam!

The heart-shaped dried persimmons that I use in this video are sold at a Korean grocery store. The persimmons should be semi-dried so that you can wrap walnuts in them easily. If the dried persimmons are too dry, put some honey inside of them to make them sticky. The other type of dried persimmons that I use in this video that look like flat, round discs are sold at an Asian grocery store. You can make gotgamssam with either one.

If dried persimmons are not available in your area, you can use dried apricots. It will turn out really pretty. If you use dried apricots, you should call them salgussam because apricots are salgu (살구) in Korean. : )

If you like persimmons, check out my dessert persimmon punch (“Sujeonggwa“) recipe.

Enjoy the recipe!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Slice open the persimmons by slitting the sides. Make sure not to cut them all the way through.
  2. Open them up and remove the seeds. Flatten them out and trim the edges to make rectangular strips.
  3. Put them side by side with sticky part up.
  4. Add 3 halved walnuts lengthwise, with the wrinkly part down.
  5. Add 3 more halved walnuts to fit on the first like lids.
  6. Roll up the persimmon. Cover with plastic wrap and press it together. Keep in the freezer.
  7. Serve with tea and slice the wraps into ⅓ inch thick pieces.

Salgussam (Walnuts wrapped in dried apricots)

  1. Make 3-4 strips of apricot. Put them side by side on your cutting board with sticky part up.
  2. Add walnuts and roll them up the same way you would do for gotgamssam.

Posted on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 at 7:03 pm. Last updated on August 10, 2021.
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16 Comments:

  1. BradOneill Orange County, CA joined 1/13 & has 1 comment
    Posted January 9th, 2013 at 12:33 pm | or create a profile.

    I am really intrigued by this recipe. I have been buying frozen persimmons at a local grocery chain that features a lot of healthy and interesting products. Do you think this would work if I bought those frozen persimmons and just thawed them out and let them get soft again? The persimmons have a really unusual flavor that I find really appealing. Have not found another fruit that is quite like it!

  2. noisnj BKK joined 6/12 & has 1 comment
    Posted June 14th, 2012 at 2:59 am | or create a profile.

    I wanted to try this recipe of yours, but I couldn’t find dried Persimmons and I don’t quite like apricots… So I tried with dried Turkish Figs instead (Figs happen to be my absolutely favorite dried fruits)

    The color may not be very pretty, but it tastes really great!!! ^___^ (especially with some strong coffee or tea to balance out the sweetness)

    Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe.

    (https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/599233_10150960868071484_1215438873_n.jpg)

  3. turtls313 Illinois joined 9/11 & has 2 comments
    Posted April 4th, 2012 at 2:10 pm | or create a profile.

    Maangchi–
    This recipe is perfect! 2 ingredients, simple, healthy– a great alternative to sugary sweets for my daughter (and for me, too!).
    How long do they keep? If I make them on the weekend will they keep in the refrigerator or freezer through the week? Thanks!

  4. Noza Russia joined 4/12 & has 1 comment
    Posted April 3rd, 2012 at 2:53 am | or create a profile.

    sooo beautiful i love this recept u r magic Maangchi :))

  5. MariskaLim Jakarta, Indonesia joined 2/11 & has 55 comments
    Posted April 1st, 2012 at 6:11 am | or create a profile.

    Very beautiful color… a glass of green tea and Gotgamssam in 3:00 PM will be make my day. :D I already have the walnut, i will search the fruits immediately. *get ready to go to supermarket* XD

  6. kimchi-saranghe WA joined 2/12 & has 2 comments
    Posted March 28th, 2012 at 9:58 pm | or create a profile.

    Maangchi,
    is it possible to do it with something other than walnuts? i really want to try this but i’m allergic :S
    please let me know,
    thanks ^.^

  7. marise The Netherlands joined 2/11 & has 4 comments
    Posted March 28th, 2012 at 9:47 am | or create a profile.

    oh, my mom will love this! thank you for the recipe :)

  8. chef Benedict Manila, Philippines joined 11/11 & has 45 comments
    Posted March 27th, 2012 at 10:42 pm | or create a profile.

    new recipe… it looks like a very traditional korean dessert made by you… composes of just dried persimmons and walnuts wow! so unique… but you can also try the dried apricots wow! fantastic! :D

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