Quince-Cinnamon Compote

Not quite a pear and not really an apple, quince is a pome fruit that, once cooked, tastes like a cross between the two, but quince stays firm and takes on a beautiful red blush color. This vegan and gluten-free recipe gives a simple formula for compote. It can be eaten as a dessert on its own or added to oatmeal or breakfast quinoa. It also complements white meat well.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 259 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ lemon
• ½ cinnamon stick
• ⅓ cup agave syrup
• 2 pounds quinces
• 3 cups water, plus more for soaking
• ¼ cup raw cane sugar
• 1 pod black cardamom (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Rinse quinces under running water to remove the fuzzy layer. Squeeze the lemon into a large bowl and fill halfway with water.

Step 2

Cut quinces into quarters. Peel, core, and dice one quarter at a time, and transfer fruit to the lemon water to prevent browning.

Step 3

Combine 3 cups of fresh water, cane sugar, agave syrup, cinnamon stick, and cardamom pod in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add drained quinces and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook at a low boil for 20 minutes.

Step 4

Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover the saucepan with a lid, placing a wooden spoon underneath to keep it slightly ajar and allow some steam to escape without it drying out. Simmer like this for about 25 minutes. The compote is ready when the fruit has turned a red blush color, it is tender to a fork, and the syrup has reduced by three-fourths. The objective is to have softened fruit with a thickened syrup at the end. The syrup will thicken more upon cooling.