When it comes to cooking, the line between sweet and savory spices is often blurred. In many cultures, spices like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and cumin are used in both sweet and savory dishes to add a subtle but interesting contrast of flavors. One delicious example is the use of spices in a simple summer berry compote.
In this recipe from the book “COOKish,” a blend of black pepper and chili powder is used to enliven the compote. The combination of these savory spices with sweet strawberries creates a delightful topping for ice cream or yogurt. Just a teaspoon of the spice blend is enough to enhance the flavor of a pound of strawberries.
The strawberries are cooked with a small amount of sugar and lime zest, lightly mashed, and then poured over fresh strawberries. The heat softens the fresh berries and melds the flavors together. For a different flavor profile, garam masala, an Indian spice blend, can be substituted, adding warming spices like cinnamon, clove, and black pepper.
Here is the recipe for Citrus and Spice Strawberry Compote:
Citrus and Spice Strawberry Compote
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients:
- 1 pound strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 2 tablespoons white sugar, divided
- Grated zest of 1 lime OR 1 lemon OR ½ medium orange
- 1 teaspoon chili powder OR garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- Pinch of kosher salt
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, toss two-thirds of the berries with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the zest; set aside.
- In a small saucepan, toast the chili powder (or garam masala) until fragrant; add the remaining berries, the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, the black pepper, salt, and ¼ cup water.
- Simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes, then mash the berries to break them down.
- Cook, stirring until jammy, then immediately pour over the reserved berries in the bowl and stir. Let stand for 10 minutes.
This Citrus and Spice Strawberry Compote is a quick and easy way to elevate your summer berry desserts. The subtle heat from the spices adds a unique twist to the sweet strawberries, making each bite more interesting. Whether you enjoy it with ice cream or yogurt, this compote is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
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