Festivus Fruit Compote Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between stewed fruit and fruit compote? ›

A compote is simply preserved or cooked fruit. Your mum probably called it stewed fruit, so compote is just a new name for an old favourite. Compote is French for 'mixture' and back in medieval Europe, it was a dessert of whole fruits cooked in water with sugar and spices.

Compote (or compôte) is French for “mixture.” It is basically a sweet, chunky fruit sauce made with whole or chopped fresh or frozen fruit and sugar. The fruit and sugar are typically cooked on the stovetop for a brief time until the fruit has softened and collapsed into a delicious fruit sauce.

Compotes are delicious served all by themselves as a dessert at the end of a meal. They are usually served warm but are sometimes chilled.

The recipe or methodology hasn't changed much over the centuries… a compote is simply cooked fruit preserved in a sugar syrup. Compote can be made from fresh or dried fruit, left whole or cut into chunks (although more commonly the latter), and cooked in a sugar syrup with or without spices.

Compote is fresh, saucy and sweet, and ready in as little as 15 minutes. You can make compote ahead of time and warm it up or throw it onto the stove after dinner. Serve it on ice cream for dessert, yogurt or toast the next morning, or anything else that could use some fruity flavor. You really can't go wrong.

Additionally, jam on average contains 50% or more sugar whereas compote is 15% or less. This makes compote the healthier of the two to indulge in, but it must be taken into account that people generally eat significantly less jam than they do compote in their dishes.

The dish was originally served by itself in 17th century France as a dessert item. Interestingly enough, the dessert was originally created for its supposed health benefits. The idea was that this dessert, or fruits cooked in any syrup, balanced out the effects of humidity in the body.

Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To keep compotes for longer, freeze, in batches, in plastic containers so you can defrost only as much as you need. Spices Oriental flavours such as star anise, ginger and cardamom are fantastic for fruit with a rich flavour, such as plums and berries.

Whisk 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the compote after it has broken down and simmer 1-2 minutes, or until thickened to your desired texture.

I love to serve compote over crêpes, french toast or a fresh baked baguette. Compote served warm over ice cream is a true delight. Compote is also delicious over yogurt or granola for a quick mid-week breakfast. I also greatly recommend serving a savory apple compote with duck breast magret or pork tenderloin.

Is fruit compote good for you? ›

Incorporating compote into your diet can aid in maintaining optimal digestive function. Sustained Energy Release: The natural sugars present in the fruits used to prepare seven-fruit compote provide a sustained source of energy, making it an ideal addition to your breakfast or snack routine.

Bonne Maman Cherry Compote 385G - Tesco Groceries.

Compote and jam are two different products made from similar ingredients. Compotes have bigger pieces of fruit in them, and smaller berries can and be kept whole, whereas jam has smaller pieces of fruit, sometimes even pureed. Compotes are not canned and have less sugar than jam.

Key Differences

Coulis can be made by pureeing fruits or vegetables, whereas compote is prepared by cooking down fruits until soft. Coulis is basically a fruit in pureed form, but compote has additional ingredients like spices and dried fruits, which lend a complex flavor.

Storage & freezing

Store in a sealed container or jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Fruit compote can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before using. Serve cold, or warm gently in a small pan on the stove or in a microwave.

Compote or compôte (French for stewed fruit) is a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits are cooked in water with sugar and spices.

Serve over cereal, yoghurt, pancakes, granola, muesli or even with roast pork!

Both cooked and raw apples are healthy, but stewed apples can be particularly helpful for gut health. Let's consider at raw apples first. By eating these, you benefit from nutrients such as vitamin C and potassium.

We eat it for breakfast, as a snack or dessert, simply spooned over porridge, yoghurt, chia pudding, cream, ice cream, custard, panna cotta, on toast, on pancakes,... The stewing concentrates the flavours, and softens the fruit into a silky melt-in-your-mouth consistency, and melds together any extra flavourings.