Blood Orange, Grapefruit and Pomegranate Compote

Blood Orange, Grapefruit and Pomegranate Compote
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
About 45 minutes
Rating
4(39)
Comments
Read comments

This recipe was inspired by a blood-orange compote with caramel-citrus syrup developed by Deborah Madison, the author of “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.” Here, the same caramel technique is used with the added benefit of a splash of port. It’s a brightly-flavored, refreshing dessert, and it keeps well for a couple of days.

Featured in: Turning Up the Heat on Fruit

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:6 servings
  • 2pounds blood oranges (they are small, so this is usually around 8 or 9)
  • 2ruby red grapefruit
  • 80grams (6 tablespoons) sugar, preferably organic
  • 2tablespoons water
  • 1tablespoon agave nectar
  • 2tablespoons port wine
  • ½teaspoon vanilla
  • cup pomegranate seeds
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

184 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 45 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 37 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 1 milligram sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Set aside two oranges and a grapefruit half. Remove peel and pith from remaining oranges and grapefruit. Cut away both ends of the fruit so that it sits flat on your cutting board (it helps to use one with a canal around the edges so you can pour off the juice). Using a chef’s knife, utility knife or a paring knife, cut skin and pith completely away from the fruit, following the natural curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Slice peeled fruit into rounds. Cut the grapefruit rounds into thirds or quarters and combine with the sliced oranges in a serving bowl. Pour accumulated juice into a separate, small bowl. Squeeze the juice from the remaining two oranges and grapefruit half (you need about ¾ cup), and add to the small bowl. Peel and slice any remaining grapefruit and add to the bowl with the fruit. Set aside fruit while you make caramel syrup.

  2. Step 2

    Stir vanilla and port into the citrus juice. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water and agave nectar. With a wet pastry brush, brush down sides of pan to dislodge any stray sugar granules. Over medium heat, bring mixture to a boil, continuing to brush down any errant sugar crystals. Cover pan, turn heat down to medium-low and set timer for 4 minutes. Uncover and cook until the caramel is golden to amber. Swirl pan if necessary to distribute the darkening caramel, but do not stir. Bubbles should be breaking on the surface. Insert a candy thermometer and as soon as the caramel reaches 310 to 325 degrees (it will be a deep golden color), remove from heat and allow bubbles to subside.

  3. Step 3

    Carefully add juice-port mixture to the sugar mixture, standing away from pan to avoid splashes. Heat through over medium heat stirring with a heat-proof spatula. The caramel may seize on the spatula; just continue to stir and heat until the caramel has melted again and the juice and caramel come together. (The caramel is very hot so resist temptation to taste it.) Remove from heat and allow to cool, then pour over fruit. Toss gently. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

4 out of 5
39 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

I forgot to add I didn't really follow the proportions for the syrup. I just slurpped all the juice on my cutting board and pressed lightly from the peels (not too hard to avoid the pith's bitterness) and added a bit of red wine and sugar to the sweetness I liked and brought that to a boil. I let it cool just a bit and poured over the fruit & threw the whole thing in the fridge overnight. Perfection!

A delicious option for a brunch fruit salad in the dead of winter! I do think that the recipe makes too much liquid relative to the fruit, but your result may differ. Just don't add all the liquid at once.

I’d love to adapt this for a diabetic. Any ideas for using sugar substitute? I’m fairly sure that substitutes won’t caramelize in the same way.

@JaneJ Whey Low Granular will caramelize.

Very good served with breakfast/brunch. Add the juice-port mixture just about an hour before serving and only used half; more and longer would have over powered the fruit.

I forgot to add I didn't really follow the proportions for the syrup. I just slurpped all the juice on my cutting board and pressed lightly from the peels (not too hard to avoid the pith's bitterness) and added a bit of red wine and sugar to the sweetness I liked and brought that to a boil. I let it cool just a bit and poured over the fruit & threw the whole thing in the fridge overnight. Perfection!

Private comments are only visible to you.

or to save this recipe.