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Kompot
Fruit and berry drink
Russian homemade fruit and berry drink, simmered briefly and served chilled
Kompot is the drink of Russian summers: a big pan of water with whatever the garden or market offers, apples, cherries, redcurrants, strawberries, plums, simmered for a few minutes, lightly sweetened and served cold from the fridge. It is what children drink with lunch at school canteens and summer camps from Moscow to Novosibirsk, and dacha cellars are lined with three-litre jars of it bottled for winter. The fruit at the bottom of the glass is everyone's favourite part. Chef's tip: switch off the heat as soon as it boils and let the fruit steep as it cools; long boiling makes it taste stewed and dull.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 12 ½ cups water
- 2 applescored and cut into wedges
- 1 ⅛ lb mixed berries and stone fruitcherries, redcurrants, strawberries, plums; fresh or frozen
- 5 ½ oz sugarto taste
- ½ lemon (optional)sliced
- 2 mint sprigs (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 12 ½ cups water to the boil in a large pan with 2 apples over a high heat.
6 minStep 2: Add 1 ⅛ lb mixed berries and stone fruit and 5 ½ oz sugar, stir until the sugar dissolves, and bring just back to the boil, about 2 minutes, until the water turns pink and the fruit softens.
3 minStep 3: Turn off the heat, add ½ lemon and 2 mint sprigs, cover and leave to cool completely, about 2 hours. The colour deepens as it stands.
120 minStep 4: Taste and add a little more sugar or lemon. Chill and serve in glasses with a spoonful of the fruit. It keeps 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 23 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kompot take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of apples?
- Pears, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Summer coolers