Spiced Winter Fruit Recipes

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup each sliced dried apricots and dried cherries, 3 strips lemon zest, the juice of 1 lemon, a spoonful of sugar, 1 cinnamon stick and 2 tablespoons water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds. Toss with 2 segmented oranges, 2 sliced pears and a dash of vanilla; let sit at least 30 minutes. Serve with yogurt.
• Serves: 4 (does not include yogurt); Calories: 181; Total Fat: 0.5 gram; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 2 grams; Total carbohydrates: 46 grams; Sugar: 35 grams; Fiber: 6 grams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams; Sodium: 3 milligrams

Steps:

• For the fruit: Cut the grapefruits and oranges into segments over a large bowl, and squeeze the remaining juice from the inner membrane. Gently toss the segments with the grapes and pomegranate pips and grapes. Peel, slice, and toss in the bananas.
• For the syrup: Stir together the honey, water, vanilla bean pod and seeds, ginger, cinnamon, and star anise, if using, in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and then pour over the fruit. Remove the star anise, set aside for about 1 hour for the flavors to come together. Serve.

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients, except the fruits, into a large saucepan and slowly bring to the boil, uncovered. Boil the syrup for 5 minutes then remove the pan from the heat.
• Top and tail the oranges, then slice off the skin and every scrap of pith, using a small, sharp kitchen knife. Cradle each orange in the palm of your hand, hold it over the saucepan and cut out the segments, letting them drop into the syrup. Squeeze any juice from the debris into the syrup, too, then discard.
• Add the apricots and plums to the syrup and return the saucepan to a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then simmer the fruits for 10 minutes. Leave to cool, then chill for at least 2 hours.
• Serve the poached fruits just as they are or as a brûlée: whisk the milk into the fromage frais to loosen it a little, then divide the fruits and enough juice to cover them, among six ovenproof ramekins and spoon on the fromage frais, thickly. Dust with caster sugar and then 'burn' the sugar with a blow-torch. (Or put the ramekins on a heavy baking sheet, place it under a very hot grill and leave for 1-2 minutes until the sugar has caramelised.)

Steps:

• Tip the dried fruit, orange juice and whole spices into a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on High for 4-5 mins, stirring halfway through until the juices become sticky and the fruits are plump.
• Leave the compote to stand for a minute and serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt or fromage frais.