Khoshaf -- Dried Fruit and Nut Compote (Iran -- Middle East)

Submitted by Sydney Mike

"This recipe of soaked rather than stewed dried fruit was found in the 2002 cookbook, Mediterranean Street Food. Almost all of the long preparation time is the PASSIVE time needed for the fruits & nuts to soak."

 

• Ready In: 4hrs
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1 cup seedless raisin
• 1 cup dried apricot, pitted, halved
• 1⁄3 cup almonds, blanched, halved
• 1⁄3 cup pistachio nut
• 1⁄3 cup walnuts
• 1⁄2 cup pine nuts
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange blossom water

directions

1. Rinse raisins & dried apricot halves under cold water, then place in a bowl, cover with 1 quart of cold water & let soak 2-3 hours.
2. Put nuts in a bowl & cover with boiling water & let soak 45 minutes to soften them & freshen their taste.
3. Transfer fruit & its macerating liquid to a serving bowl, then add the sugar & orange blossom water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
4. Rinse & drain the nuts & add to the fruit, mixing well.
5. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Reviews

[Debbwl]

Very enjoyable! This makes a very satisfying dessert that is great on its own or would be good with yogurt or ice cream. I made as written although I did snip my apricots so that everything was about the same size. Also made using the suggested times (really liked), but next time just to compare how the time effects the recipe may try other reviews suggestion of using whole almonds and overnight soak time. Highly recommend this nice healthy dessert, thanks for the post.

 

[twissis]

While made as written except for the use of slivered almonds like another reviewer, I read the prior reviews & it seemed best results were achieved w/longer soak & refrigeration times. So I made it Wed for review today (Fri) & I must say that I cannot imagine how a more ideal result could be achieved. Won over by another reviewer, I also served it atop ice cream & it really was great. I could not help but wonder if a bit of brandy added prior to refrigeration would be just the thing to send this recipe into 10* territory for me .. almost certainly inconsistent w/the cuisine, but such a nice thot. Thx for posting this recipe for us.

 

[katew]

This will be great served with my yoghurt at breakfast or served over a slice of cake. I did not add the sugar as the fruit esp the apricots are sweet enough for me. It is so so pretty and versatile too. I soaked both fruit and nuts overnight like previous reviewer did with a plump and delicious result. Made for ZWT6.

 

[juli_and_scott]

I had to make a few adjustments. I used a variety of dried fruits (apples, cranberries, dates, plums, apricots, and the list goes on), and pistachios because that what I had on hand. I soaked it for about 24 hours. However, I really went crazy, so to speak, when I served it ala mode! WOW talk about tasty! It was good after a 24 hour soak, but two days later it was fabulous. The fruit was very soft and the liquid was nice and syrupy, not too sweet, full of flavor. Fantastic!

 

[UmmBinat]

I really liked the fruit and nuts done this way. DH like the flavour a lot too but shyed away from it because it was so liquidly. I used dark raisins and organic dried apricots. The only change I made was to use blanched slivered almonds instead of halved because it was what I had on hand. To compensate I soaked them for 15 out of the 45 minutes. The problem I had with this recipe was the fruit and nuts were in a very thin liquid at the end. I think to tweak this recipe to a probable 5 stars would be to simmer the liquid down slightly to a thin syrup. I liked the orange blossom water with this. This was even better chilled. I will try making it again as stated above. Made for Ramadan Tag.