Uzvar(Dried Fruit Compote)
Submitted by peccaj
Uzvar is a traditional Ukrainian dried fruit compote simmered in apple cider with honey, cloves, and cinnamon. Warm, fruity, and gently spiced, it keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks.
YIELD
4 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
20 minREADY
40 minUzvar holds a cherished place on the Ukrainian Christmas Eve table, but honestly, this honeyed dried fruit compote is too good to save for one night a year.
Dried apples, pears, prunes, and raisins simmer in apple cider until plump and tender, then the liquid gets reduced to concentrate all that fruity sweetness. A cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and a squeeze of lemon keep things balanced so it never tips into candy territory.
Serve it warm in clear glass bowls to show off those jewel-toned fruits floating in their golden broth. It stores beautifully in the fridge for up to two weeks, getting better with each passing day as the flavors deepen.
Chef Tips
- Use quality dried fruit without added sulfites for the cleanest flavor. The fruit is the star here, so let it shine.
- Don’t skip reducing the cooking liquid. That concentration step is what transforms thin cider into a syrupy, luscious compote.
- Taste before adding all the honey. Depending on your cider and dried fruit, you may need less sweetness and more lemon to keep the fruit flavor front and center.
Ingredients
Directions
Combine the fruit in a large pot and fill with enough cider to cover it by a third more. The fruit will absorb a lot of liquid.
Add the cloves and lemon peel.
Simmer until the larger pieces are cooked but not falling apart.
Pour off the liquid into a pan and cook until reduced by a third.
Add the honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and fruit.
Reheat, stirring.
Taste, and add more lemon juice if needed.
It should not be cloying sweet, the taste of the fruit should dominate.
Serve warm in crystal or clear glass bowls.
Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Comments