How to cook apple compote?
Apple compote is an excellent drink that can be consumed both in summer and winter, filling the body with the missing vitamins. There are many interesting nuances in making apple compote that can lead to amazing taste from such a simple fruit.
In this case, it is necessary to mention the fact that, during the preparation of compote, it is not necessary to remove the peel from apples, which contains useful vitamins and substances. It is also advisable to use enamelware during cooking, as aluminum and stainless steel can spoil the taste of freshly brewed compote.
Apples are one of those fruits that combines well with many other ingredients to make a tasty, healthy and refreshing drink.
It should be noted that in its pure form, apple compote is recommended for use by nutritionists, which indicates its low calorie content and confirms the usefulness of consumption.
The composition and calorie content of compote
By themselves, apples contain the following vitamins: B6, B2, B1, A, C, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid; trace elements - phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, sodium and sulfur.
The composition of the compote after its preparation is as follows:
- Calories, kcal: 85;
- Proteins, g: 0.2;
- Fats, g: 0.0;
- Carbohydrates, g: 22.1.
Boiled fruits transfer their properties to the drink, which makes it useful for the body.
Preparation of ingredients
In order to make a drink from fresh apples, you will need:
- enamel pot;
- knife and board for peeling and cutting apples;
- colander or sieve (in order to remove the pulp from the liquid, which gave all its useful properties to the compote),
- apples, 700-800;
- 2.5-3 liters of water;
- the addition of sugar depends on the taste of the chosen variety of apples and personal preferences (sour, sweet, or neutral), but the required minimum is half a glass.
The next step is the preparation of apples. It is necessary to choose not overripe and not too green fruits, rinse the apples thoroughly under running water; then cut them into slices of an arched shape, medium in size. In some recipes, at the stage of preparing apples, it is recommended to peel them; however, you should not do this, as apple peel contains many of the vitamins mentioned above.
The core of the apple, along with the seeds, is desirable to cut. For example, you can use the image below.
Making apple compote from frozen ingredients is not much different from making it from fresh fruits.
It needs:
- frozen apples - 1-1.5 kg. By the way, you can not defrost them, but immediately lower them into boiling water;
- 2.5 liters of water;
- granulated sugar, which is put "to taste", the sweetness of the drink depends on the preferences of the cook.
The method of making compote from whole apples, the most common for winter spin.
We thoroughly wash whole apples, select and remove spoiled fruits. Please note that the peel from the apples does not need to be cut off. Next, you should pack the apples in jars, which must first be doused with boiling water from the inside and, thus, sterilized. Fill the jar of apples with boiling water to the middle.At the same time, bring water with added sugar to a boil, in the amount necessary to fill the jar completely; after boiling, pour it into a jar.
Next, screw the lid tightly onto the neck of the jar. We put the finished winter compote with the lid down on a bed cover or a thick layer of paper (old newspapers, magazines) and cover it tightly with another cover on top. After the wrapped jars have cooled, they can be transferred to the pantry before the onset of the winter period.
When spinning compote for the winter, you can use not only small and medium-sized apples, which, as a rule, are twisted whole, but also large ones, after cutting them into 6-8 slices and peeling them from the core.
General cooking rules
When preparing apple compote, which can be enjoyed at any time of the year, you need to follow the following simple rules:
- sweet and sour varieties are most often used in the preparation of compote;
- in no case should compote be brought to a full boil, cook only on low heat;
- if sufficiently hard apples are used, then boiling should occur for 20 minutes on low heat;
- soft or overripe fruits are not suitable for cooking compote; the cook runs the risk of getting apple porridge;
- do not use unripe or too green apples, as there is a risk that their taste and aroma are not pronounced enough, and the cooked compote will turn out to be bland or bitter;
- fruits are recommended to be cut into slices of the same thickness;
- you can add spices (for example, cinnamon or cloves) if you wish, but this must be done at the end of cooking in order to preserve the desired taste and aroma.
The algorithm for making delicious homemade apple compote is as follows:
- wash the fruits, cut out the core of each, cut into 4-6 identical slices;
- cook sweet syrup using water and sugar, after it boils, the apples themselves are added;
- the duration of cooking apple compote can vary from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the variety chosen and the hardness of the fruit. For example, if you use a ripe Antonovka, then bring the water to a full boil and turn off the fire. "Simirenko" or "Melba" is better to boil over low heat for 5 to 8 minutes.
Please note that the above rules for cooking apple compote are relevant throughout the entire active fruiting season, there would be time and a desire to do this. The preparation of compote in the winter is possible only when using dried and frozen apples, or those varieties that are sold in winter.
Cooking compote in a slow cooker
Modern technology allows you to cook culinary masterpieces using not only the hob or oven, but also other kitchen appliances. Cooking apple compote in a slow cooker has become very common today.
The cooking process in a slow cooker is as easy and simple as described above.
Fruits intended for cooking must be washed, clean apples should be peeled, since in a slow cooker it will simply fall behind the fruit and the compote will be filled with boiled peel. Remember to cut the core of all fruits. We shift the finished apples into a bowl, fill it with water, select the “Extinguishing” mode on the slow cooker. The cooking process will take half an hour, after boiling the compote needs to be cooked for another 10 minutes. For complete readiness, the drink must be infused. Select the "Heating" mode and leave in the slow cooker for 30 minutes.
Recipes
Apple compote with rhubarb.
This is one of the most delicious varieties of apple compote, thanks to the unique flavor that rhubarb stems give:
- take 5 apples;
- take 400 g of rhubarb stem;
- half a glass of sugar;
- 2-2.5 liters of water.
We wash the apples, cut them, remove the core, do not remove the peel. Rhubarb stalk washed and cut into small pieces. Next, put the pan, pour water, add 250-300 g of sugar. After boiling, we lower the apples and rhubarb into the water, we detect exactly 25 minutes. We do not insist the prepared drink, remove it from the stove and let it cool.
Green apple compote
Cooking compote from green apples is the most common way to prepare it. Green apples are available all year round, so the recipe for such an apple drink is suitable for all seasons.
To make it you will need:
- 300 g green apples, which should be washed, peeled and cut into 4-6 pieces;
- a saucepan for 2.5 liters of water and, in fact, water;
- 4 tablespoons of sugar;
- cooking time 10-15 minutes. The algorithm is the same as in the recipe above.
Preparation of compote from apples of the "White filling" variety
Apples of the "White filling" variety come to our table in the summer. Of these, it is recommended to make twists for the winter.
The recipe for compote for twisting is quite simple:
- sterilize a jar with a capacity of 3 liters;
- add apples of the same size, well washed and dry;
- Pour a full glass of sugar into the prepared jar;
- a jar of apples and sugar is filled with boiled water to the middle;
- after 10 minutes, fill the jar with boiled water, “under the neck”;
- after that, the jar must be rolled up, turned down with a lid, and wrapped in a blanket;
- when the jar with the finished compote has cooled down, you can put it in the pantry.
Recipe for a delicious apple compote with the addition of seasonal berries and fruits
Summer is the richest season for all kinds of fruits and berries. Therefore, you can show your imagination and add other seasonal fruits and berries to apple compote. You can use raspberries, bananas, peaches, cherries, cherry plums, plums, cherries, apricots.
To prepare such a compote, of course, apples are needed (they will make up 1/3 of the compote mixture). Next, berries and fruits according to the season (each additional component will be added 1/4).
Pour in water, bring to a boil. After boiling, add sugar, its amount depends on your taste preferences (sweeter or sourer). After adding sugar, boil for another 15-20 minutes. Remove from the fire, let it brew and cool.
Take note that compotes "assorted", with a combination of apples and seasonal fruits, have their own characteristics. In particular, the twisting of such compotes, when using stone fruit or berries, is possible; however, this product should not be stored for more than a year. If you want to extend the shelf life - remove all the seeds from the fruit.
Apple compote with tangerines
The recipe for this compote is suitable for the autumn-winter period. We take 250 g of apples, wash them, cut them into 4-6 parts. Next, take 4 tangerines, peel them, divide into slices and cut each into 2 halves. Pour 2 liters of water into the pan, add ¾ cup of sugar, bring the syrup to a boil and put the fruit there. Cook the compote over low heat for 10-15 minutes until the apples are soft. During cooking, we taste, you can add sugar if desired. After preparing the drink, it should be allowed to brew for 20 minutes.
Apple compote with cranberries
This drink is usually prepared in the cold season. Compote prepared according to this recipe can be consumed cold. as well as hot.
To prepare it you will need:
- 4-5 apples;
- 250 g cranberries;
- 1-2 cups of sugar;
- 1.5-2 liters of water.
Rinse the apples, remove the core, cut into slices. Cranberries can be used either fresh or frozen. We put the pan on the fire, pour water, add the berries, wait for the boil, add sugar, cook for 10 minutes. The apples should be soft and the cranberries should burst. Take the compote off the stove and let it cool down. If desired, spices (cinnamon, cloves, ginger) can be added to this recipe.
Cooking apple compote with lingonberries
Compote with the addition of lingonberries is a healthy and fortified homemade drink. The cooking process is simple, as, indeed, all of the above.
Compote with lingonberries and apples is prepared as follows. Berries must be washed, spoiled ones should be selected. If frozen lingonberries are involved in the preparation, then it must first be thawed and washed well, rid of wilted leaves and roots.
Wash the apples, cut the core, cut into 4 or 6 parts. Pour berries and apples into a saucepan. Add sugar to taste, but not less than 1.5 cups, pour no more than 2 liters of water.
After boiling water, the pot with compote must be transferred to a stand, covered with a lid and left to cool completely.
Using a colander or sieve, we filter the finished compote, remove the already useless pulp. Compote is ready to use!
Apple drink with blueberries
A popular, tasty and healthy drink. This compote recipe can be used year-round because both main ingredients can be purchased fresh or frozen. If blueberries are freshly picked, then they must be thoroughly washed, bad berries and leaves removed.If the blueberries are frozen, thaw them and rinse them as well.
Compote ingredients:
- 1 glass of blueberries;
- 5-7 apples;
- sugar to taste;
- 2.5 liters of water.
The cooking algorithm is as follows: put water, add chopped apples, sugar, bring to a boil and add blueberries.
Bring to a boil again, remove from the stove and leave to infuse under the lid until the compote is completely cooled. After cooling, it is recommended to strain the drink, catching the pulp so that the vitamins and beneficial properties of the berries are transferred to the compote.
Recipe for apple compote with mint
Without exaggeration, we can say that the recipe for this compote is a favorite on hot summer days. An apple, combined with mint, will quench your thirst and feel fresh in the summer heat.
The recipe for this compote is quite simple. Necessary:
- 1 kg of apples;
- a bunch of mint;
- sugar, as always to taste;
- 3 liters of water.
The cooking process is as follows: put the pan, pour water, add chopped apples, sugar, wait for it to boil. Add mint leaves, keep on low heat for another 5-7 minutes, turn off the stove and let the compote brew and cool. Besides mint. you can add strawberries or raspberries to this drink - the taste will be excellent.
You can learn more about making apple compote in this video.