A compote is a simple fruit sauce that usually serves as one element of a multilayered dessert. It’s used to top cakes or scoops of ice cream or as an accompaniment to mildly flavored cookies such as shortbread. Rhubarb requires a higher proportion of sugar than most fruits, since it is naturally sour; here it is also flavored with citrus zests. If you want to use other fruits, such as stone fruits or pears, adjust the amount of sugar depending on their sweetness.
Recipe information
Yield
makes about 3 1/2 cups
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare rhubarb Wash rhubarb well and dry thoroughly with paper towels (wipe each stalk to remove any grit). Cut crosswise on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces (you should have about 5 cups).
Step 2
Make poaching syrup Bring sugar, water, zests, and salt to a boil in a large straight-sided skillet, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add rhubarb, and stir to coat in sugar syrup. (There won’t be enough syrup to cover, but the compote will become more liquidy once the fruit starts to release its juices.) Cover and cook over medium-low heat until rhubarb is just tender, about 5 minutes. (Do not overcook; you want most of the rhubarb pieces to hold their shape.)
Step 3
Cool Remove from heat and let cool completely, about 1 hour, before using. Compote can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.
