Spiced Winter Compote

On those grey winter mornings when a bowl of cereal and slice of toast just don’t provide the incentive you need to poke your feet out from under the duvet, try this deliciously spiced and fragrant dried fruit compote. This warming compote is simplicity itself – just leave the fruit to soak overnight and heat in the morning. Delicious hot or cold, it’s a healthy way to fill up until lunchtime.

Ingredients

• 500g of dried mixed fruits (a selection of all or some of the following works well: apricots, prunes, figs, pears, peaches, apple rings, berries. Anything goes, however don’t use dates as they don’t heat well)
• 2 ordinary tea bags
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• Half tsp ground mixed spice
• Half a vanilla pod (optional – you could use a tsp of vanilla extract instead)
• Greek yogurt, flaked almonds and orange zest to serve

Method

1. Place your dried fruit selection in a large saucepan
2. Add the tea bags, honey and spices (and if using the vanilla pod, split lengthways and scrape out the seeds into the pan – or add the vanilla extract)
3. Pour over enough boiling water from the kettle to just cover the fruit, stir to allow the tea bags to brew a bit, and leave covered overnight or for 8 hours
4. Once fruit has soaked, remove the tea bags from the pan, and heat the fruit mixture over a medium heat until the liquid boils and the fruit is heated through. Try not to overcook or stir too much as you don’t want the fruit to break up
5. Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise
6. Serve with a dollop of greek yogurt, some flaked almonds and a scattering of orange zest
7. The remaining compote keeps well in the fridge and can be served hot or cold

Variations

1. To ring the changes use different types of tea bags to flavour the syrup. Fruit teas, such as blackcurrant or apple, work wonderfully
2. The compote also works as a delicious after dinner dessert – once you have warmed the fruit, lift it from the pan and reduce the remaining liquid by half to make a syrup. Add the fruit back into the pan and serve with good quality vanilla ice cream….add a dash of your favourite liqueur or spirit to make it very special