Blood Orange Compote
- 8 blood oranges
- 6 tablespoons sugar, preferably organic
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon agave nectar
- 2 teaspoons Cointreau or Triple Sec (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- Squeeze the juice from two oranges, strain and set aside.
- Remove the peel and pith from the remaining oranges.
- The easiest way to do this is to cut away both ends of the fruit so that it sits flat on your work surface, then using a chefs knife, utility knife or a paring knife, cut the skin and pith completely away from the fruit, following the natural curve of the fruit from top to bottom.
- Once peeled, remove the sections from between the membranes, holding the fruit over a bowl to catch the juice and slicing next to the connective membranes on one side of each citrus segment.
- Set the sections aside while you make the blood orange caramel syrup.
- Place the sugar in a medium saucepan and carefully add the water and agave nectar.
- With a wet pastry brush, brush down the sides of the pan.
- Look closely and make sure there are no stray sugar granules adhering to the pan.
- Brush any that you detect down into the wet sugar using the pastry brush.
- Turn the heat on medium and bring to a boil, watching again to make sure there are no loose sugar crystals on the sides of the pan and brushing down if necessary.
- Cook until the caramel is golden to amber.
- Swirl the pan if necessary, but do not stir, to distribute the syrup, which may be hotter and darker in one area than in another.
- There should be many bubbles breaking on the surface.
- As soon as the caramel reaches a golden color (about 325 degrees), remove from the heat.
- Wait until the bubbles subside, then carefully add the orange juice, being very careful to stand back, as it will bubble up.
- Stir the mixture with a whisk.
- The caramel will probably seize on the whisk (it helps to heat the whisk in hot water first).
- Dont worry about that, just stir and return to the heat.
- The caramel is very hot so resist the temptation to taste it.
- Heat through, whisking, until all of the seized caramel has melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the Cointreau or Triple Sec (or other orange liqueur), vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Allow to cool, then pour over the oranges.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
oranges, sugar, water, nectar, sec, vanilla, ground cinnamon
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014535 (may not work)