Vegan Fruit Compote (Compota de Fruta)
Compota de Fruta is a classic Portuguese home‑style dessert: fresh seasonal fruit gently simmered with sugar, warm spices, and citrus until soft, glossy, and bathed in a sweet aromatic syrup. This naturally vegan version uses no dairy, eggs, or animal products — keeping all the comforting, homely flavour and tender texture of the original. It can be served warm or cold, on its own, with vegan cream, or over toast and puddings.
Shared by kenn
Time
30 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
easy
🛒 Ingredients
- 600 g mixed fruit (apples, pears, quinces, peaches, or apricots — peeled, cored, cut into chunks)
- 150–180 g sugar (white, brown, or coconut sugar)
- 250–300 ml water,, 1 cinnamon stick
- 2–3 strips fresh lemon or orange zest (no white pith),, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Optional: 2–3 whole cloves or a pinch of nutmeg
- Fresh mint or orange zest for garnish
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Combine: Place water, sugar, cinnamon stick, citrus zest, lemon juice, and spices (if using) in a saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves completely.
- 2
Simmer fruit: Add the prepared fruit chunks. Bring to a gentle simmer, then lower heat, cover, and cook slowly for 15–20 minutes — do not boil vigorously or the fruit will break apart. Cook until fruit is tender but still holds its shape, and the syrup has thickened slightly.
- 3
Cool: Remove cinnamon stick and zest. Let cool completely in the syrup — the flavours will deepen as it rests.
- 4
Serve: Spoon into bowls, garnish with fresh mint or extra zest. Enjoy plain or with vegan yogurt, cream, or custard.