This rich, dried fruit compote is inspired by a recipe from Delia Smith’s Christmas. Dried fruit compote is a really traditional dish that is very simple to make and brings all the flavours associated with the holiday season.
Over at Belleau Kitchen, dear Dom has challenged us with his usual Random Recipe teaser. However, in my haste, I misread the challenge and instead of choosing a recipe from a cookbook that I received as a gift last Christmas, I thought we were to choose a ‘Christmas Cookbook’. Doh!
I don’t have too many Christmas cookbooks, just a couple of Delia’s and the Home and Freezer books that I blogged about last week.
The original Delia Smith’s Christmas was the one that came to the top of the pile and I opened it randomly and was delighted to find myself looking at ‘Christmas Dried Fruit Compote’
When I went to my larder, inevitably, I didn’t have everything I needed for the recipe, so substituted some different dried fruits.
No figs and no prunes, I could have sworn I had some prunes but must have used them in the instant mincemeat.
My recipe contains Medjool dates, dried apricots, and dried cranberries. I use clementine oranges and Amaretto liquer to bring that aromatic Christmas flavour.
The original recipe calls for a liberal dose of Port, well my husband can’t drink Port, it gives him migraines. So I use a couple of tablespoons of Amaretto, one of my favourite liqueurs.
In the book Delia suggests that the fruit compote is served with flaked almonds, well I didn’t have any of those either, so for this, by now VERY, Random Recipe, I used some nice green pistachio nuts to add to the festive colours.
The compote is best if you leave it overnight. Serve it with ice cream, cream or Greek yogurt or simple eat it on its own.
I put up the Christmas tree today, it lives in the kitchen between the cook books and the stove. And it is decorated with an eclectic mixture of totally uncoordinated baubles and pretty things I have been collecting since 1980/
When we bought our first flat, a friend bought the coloured lights and some decorations as a flat warming gift
I used the tree and lights as a background behind the first photo of the Dried Fruit Compote. In the spirit of the Random Recipe challenge, here is a Random Christmas decoration from my tree.
Christmas Dried Fruit Compote
Ingredients
- 100 g dried apricots
- 100 g Medjool dates
- 100 g dried cranberries
- 3 clementines
- 250 ml water
- 250 ml Amaretto liqueur
- 50 g pistachio nuts shelled and chopped
Instructions
- Wash the clementines thoroughly. Take one of the clementines and slice it very thinly, then cut the slices in half.
- Put the sliced clementine, dried apricots, dates. and cranberries into a pan with the water
- Put a lid on the pan and simmer the dried fruit with the water for 15 minutes.
- When the fruit is cooked, add the juice of the two clementines and the Amaretto.
- Leave to cool and out the compote into a lidded container and place in the fridge overnight.
- Serve topped with chopped pistachio nuts.
Jane Willis says
I love the way you've started off with a recipe and ended up with a completely differrent dish – and one that sounds delicious
belleau kitchen says
Do you know what… This post is the essence of random recipes… I set out to inspire and I think I did just that! Never mind for getting the theme slightly squiffy it all worked out for the best. Compote and tree looking delightful! Merry Christmas and thanks for entering xx
Karen S Booth says
I got it wrong once Janice, I thought we had to make something for a party for Dom's RR birthday, and made pickles on a stick, when it was supposed to be cake! LOL! I have this book, love this book and have made this compote lots of times to great acclaim! LOVELY! Karen 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Jane- this often happens to, me. I like to call it ingredient led cookery 😉
Dom- glad it fits the remit one way or another, it certainly tastes good.
Karen- yes, I remember that. Funny how the mind plays tricks on us, great results though!
Phil in the Kitchen says
Now that's truly random. I like the addition of pistachios and Amaretto – it sounds like a lovely combination of flavours. Mind you, I rarely turn down port.
A Trifle Rushed says
Mmmmm one of my favourite Christmas recipes, I can remember making it before I had the book, having just seen it the day before on television. A compote is perfect to adapt and your changes sound delicious.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake says
I really ought to invest in a copy of this book as I love Delia but don't have this one. I think I'd like some of this with yogurt for breakfast during the festive period.
Caroline says
That sounds like a lovely combination of Christmas flavours – yum! Heehee, you'll have to try some on porridge on a day when you're not driving!
Ruth Ellis says
Looks delicious – I'd chose pistachios over almonds any day! And I definitely think it would be an improvement to a bowl of boring old porridge…
Sally Akins says
I think your version looks better than the original, and more Christmassy as well.
Janice Pattie says
Ruth – yes, I must make it again and try it with the porridge!
Sally – thanks, it certainly was delicious.