Quick Triple Berry Compote Recipe | Barbara Bakes (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take for compote to thicken? ›

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.

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.

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.

The best way is to boil the sauce down until it's as thick as you want it, but it takes a lot of fruit to do it that way. There are other thickeners: tapioca starch, potato starch, agar, various kinds of grain and bean flour, pectin. Each has it's own flavour and texture.

The compote will continue to thicken as it cools. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

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.

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. It has a thicker texture than jelly.

Most compotes have less sugar than a typical jar of jam. As a result, the calories are slightly lower, but the sugar's preservation properties are gone. Jam, for example, can last up to a month after being opened, but compote often only lasts two weeks in the refrigerator.

The easiest way to describe a compote is a dish, bowl or vessel that is on a pedestal or some kind of footed stand. They can be used for a candy dish, a centerpiece, to hold a collection. Simply put, they can be used in lieu of a standard bowl where you want to add visual interest and height!

What is an antique compote? ›

Antique glassware that features a bowl-shaped container on a pedestal with/or without a lid.

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.

There are two ways to thicken the compote – lemon peel contains pectin, which is a natural thickener. Alternatively, you can use a cornstarch slurry if a fresh lemon isn't available. Warning though – use just a small amount of thickener – we're not making jam!

Opies Summer Berry Compote360g

Intensely fruity and full of sweet possibilities, this is an adored staple in any discerning kitchen.

A comport dish are a compote dish are often confused. In fact, the origin of the word comport is a 16th century variation of compote – so they are connected. Some people suggest that the difference between the two is that compotes have lids, whereas comports don't.

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.

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.

Keep in mind, a sauce that might seem too thin in the pot after the first cook, will thicken up after a few minutes off the heat. So you might not need to thicken your sauce at all. Let it sit for 10 minutes and check it. If your sauce is still too thin, reduce it.

This can be done by bringing the uncovered sauce to a medium or full boil. By reducing the amount of liquid in the sauce you are also shifting the flavors. Let your sauce boil for two to three minutes and check the thickness and taste in regular intervals.