Polish dried fruit kompot with prunes

Name: Polish dried fruit kompot with prunes
Ingredients: 1.5 L water; 100 g dried apples; 75 g dried pears; 75 g prunes; 1 cinnamon stick; 3 whole cloves; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp lemon juice

Drinks - Polish dried fruit kompot with prunes by Maeve F. - Recipia

Polish dried fruit kompot with prunes is a gently simmered drink of dried apples, pears, cinnamon and cloves. This autumn kompot comes out deep amber and sweet-tart, with softened fruit left in the pitcher; lemon juice keeps the finish bright, and it can be served warm or cold. I ladle a little fruit into each glass. Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 30 minutes. Rest: 20 minutes. Total time: 55 minutes. Serves 4. About 175 kcal and 1 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

1.5 L water
100 g dried apples
75 g dried pears
75 g prunes
1 cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice

Preparation

1. Rinse the dried apples, pears and prunes under cool water. 2. Bring the water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan. Add the dried fruit, cinnamon stick and cloves. Cover, lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes; the liquid will turn a deep brown-red. 3. Stir in the sugar and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes, until the fruit is soft. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. 4. Leave the drink to steep for 20 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves, then serve with some of the softened fruit in each glass.

Notes

Serve it warm with a slice of gingerbread, or chill it and pour into small glasses with a few pieces of fruit. Dried sour cherries can replace the prunes in the same amount; the drink will be more tart. Fruit varies, so choose soft, pliable pieces if you can. Very dry, leathery fruit may need another 5 minutes of gentle simmering. Keep the kompot covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and warm it slowly without bringing it back to a boil.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this with fresh apples?

Yes. Use 500 g peeled, chopped apples and pears instead of all the dried fruit, and simmer them for 15 minutes before proceeding with the sugar and lemon. The drink will be lighter.

Should I strain out the fruit?

No; I usually include about 2 tablespoons of softened fruit in each glass. Strain the rest if you want a clearer drink.

How do I make it less sweet?

Use 1 teaspoon of sugar instead of 1 tablespoon, then taste the drink after steeping before adding any more.