Quinces Poached in Syrup
- 2 large or 4 small quinces, weighing about 2 pounds total
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup kaymak (page 407), clotted cream, mascarpone, or heavy cream
- Wash the quinces and scrub to remove the light down that covers their skin in patches.
- Cut them in half through the core, but do not peel them.
- The fruit is extremely hard, so you will need a strong knife and a lot of strength.
- You do not need to core them, and the pips are important, as they produce a wonderful red jelly.
- Cook the quinces as soon as they are cut, as the flesh discolors quickly.
- Have ready a pan of boiling waterabout 34 cupswith the lemon juice and sugar.
- Put in the fruit, cut side down, and simmer until the fruit is tender and the syrup turns into a reddish jelly.
- The time varies greatly, from 20 to 60 minutes, for the fruit to be tender, and the syrup can take more than an hour to turn into a reddish jelly.
- You have to watch the fruit so that it does not fall apart.
- If it becomes tender too quickly, lift out, reduce the syrup by simmering, then return the fruit to the pan and cook until the syrup becomes reddish and thick.
- The thickened syrup has a hardening effect and prevents the fruit from falling apart.
- Arrange the quince halves, cut side up, on a serving dish, and pour the syrup on top.
- It will turn into a jelly when it cools.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature with dollops of kaymak, clotted cream, mascarpone, or whipped heavy cream.
- This roast caramelized quince is wonderful and easy.
- Bake the quinces whole, in a 375F oven, for about 1 1/22 hours (the time varies depending on their size and ripeness), or until they feel soft.
- Cut them in half through the core and put them, cut side up, in a shallow baking dish.
- Put a sliver of butter and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of sugar on top of each half.
- Put under the broiler for a few minutes, until the sugar has turned a dark brown and filled the kitchen with a sweet smell.
total, lemon, sugar, mascarpone
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/quinces-poached-in-syrup-373577 (may not work)