How to make compote (2024)

FAQs

What is compote made of? ›

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.

Combine fruit, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Optional: Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan. Continue to boil until the berries break down and the compote has thickened to desired consistency, or about 2 to 3 minutes.

Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruit and sugar, and has a chunky texture. Jelly is made from fruit juice and sugar, and has a smooth, translucent texture. Compote is made from whole or large pieces of fruit that are cooked in a syrup made from sugar and water.

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.

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.

Jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, compote, and chutney all involve some combination of fruit, sugar, and heat, and they rely on pectin — a natural fiber found most plants that helps cooked fruit firm up — for texture.

Compotes are very useful for health, because they contain different vitamins, pectin, minerals and fruit sugar – fructose. The health benefit of compotes is decided by the components of the drink. Apricot compotes are useful for the people who have problems in circulatory system, kidneys and liver.

This tasty compote is a delicious dish that uses fruit that is fresh, frozen, dried and canned. It's great on its own and can also be enjoyed with porridge, pancakes or yoghurt.

What is a coulis vs compote? ›

Compote: Fresh or dried fruits that have been slowly cooked in a sugar syrup. Confit: To cook in fat at a low temperature (under 200 degrees F). Coulis: A pureed and strained fruit sauce. Crème Anglaise: A custard made of egg yolks and cream that is cooked on the stove-top.

The name is derived from the Latin word compositus, meaning mixture. In late medieval England it was served at the beginning of the last course of a feast (or sometimes the second out of three courses), often accompanied by a creamy potage. During the Renaissance, it was served chilled at the end of dinner.

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.

You can thicken up your berry compote by simmering it for longer to reduce it further. Alternatively, add a little cornstarch to the mixture. To do this, create a cornstarch slurry with cornstarch and water before adding it to the berry sauce in the pan.

Compote is a simple fruit sauce made with pieces of fresh (or frozen) fruit and some sugar, cooked briefly on the stove. You could call the end result a textured fruit sauce or chunky fruit syrup. I call it magic. Instead of sugar, I use a small amount of maple syrup or honey to make naturally sweetened compote.

Is apple compote the same as apple sauce? Apple compote and applesauce are two different dishes. The shape and texture of the apples are retained in apple compote and no additional water should be added. In applesauce the apples are cooked with water, sugar, and seasonings and then pureed.

The Culinary Institute of America considers compote to be one of two types of fruit sauce: there's coulis, made with smooth, pureed fruit and then there's compote, which is a chunky mixture.