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Blueberry-Gin Compote

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Photo by Chelsea Kyle

One day while cooking some blueberries, it occurred to me that the sharp taste of a sizable shot of gin would nicely complement the berries, so I reached for the bottle and poured some in. Gin’s herbaceous flavor does indeed marry nicely with blueberries—it can hardly be tasted once cooked, but somehow it just rounds out the blueberry notes. Now, whenever I cook with blueberries, a bit of gin finds its way into the mix.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 2 cups (500 ml)

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups (12 ounces/340 g) fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup (50 g) sugar, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons (30 ml) gin

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, and gin. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries soften and release their juices.

    Step 2

    Remove from the heat and let stand, uncovered, and let cool to room temperature. Taste for sweetness and add more sugar, if desired.

  2. Storage

    Step 3

    This compote can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s actually better when prepared a day in advance, which gives it time to thicken nicely.

  3. Variation

    Step 4

    If you don’t wish to use gin, you can substitute water and a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Cover of David Lebovitz's Ready for Dessert featuring plates of cookies and a glass of milk.
Reprinted with permission from Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes, copyright 2010 by David Lebovitz. Published by Ten Speed Press. All Rights Reserved. Buy the full book at Amazon or Bookshop.
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