Spiced Pear Compote
We may not always consider pears to make a compote, but as they are generally sweeter than the more traditional apples, they work well combined with spices for a delicious pear compote that you can keep in the fridge and use all week.
Ingredients
- 4 pears ripe but firm
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 star anise
- 2 cardamon pods slightly crushed
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 small vanilla pod split, seeds scraped out. Use pod too.
Instructions
- Core and chop into bite-size chunks, with the skin on
- Combine all the ingredients (including the vanilla seeds and pod if using) in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 15-20 minutes, stirring often until the pears are soft, but still retain their shape.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise (and vanilla pod) and set aside to cool. Serve slightly warm or cold.
- Depending on how sweet your pears were, you may prefer a slightly sweeter compote; feel free to add in 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup.