Fresh Apricot Compote with Vanilla

The apricots available at my local farmer's market are of the rosy cheeked variety, and this time of year it is impossible to ignore them. Their blushing faces stare up at me from their baskets every time I walk by, making them completely irresistible to my produce loving heart and I pick up a handful or two every chance I get.



Like most fruit this time of year, fresh apricots require very little to make them sing. Prepared this way, they are not as sweet or smooth as jam, but a bit of sugar (or honey), vanilla, and gentle heat coaxes out all of their wonderful rich, buttery flavor without losing their distinct tartness. They slump over in the pan and release their juices making them the perfect topping for all sorts of dishes. 

The day I made this compote, we piled big spoonfuls on top of a batch of "Waffles of Insane Greatness" which were so tasty and easy to put together on the fly, but if you can anticipate your desire for waffles the night before, give Marion Cunningham's Yeasted Waffles a try. You have to let part of the batter rest overnight, but the reward of crisp, full flavored breakfast treats will far outweigh the little bit of effort required to put the batter together. Both recipes can be found in this post (with far more poetic descriptions) by Molly from Orangette if you're curious.

I can also say with authority that the compote is great eaten by the spoonful, straight from the fridge or with yogurt for breakfast or an afternoon snack. I imagine it would also be delicious spooned over some crispy baked puff pastry and garnished with a dollop of creme fraiche for dessert.

See how I used apricots last summer in this Apricot Jam with Saffron and Rose.

Fresh Apricot Compote with Vanilla
yield about 1 1/2 cups

1 pound/453g rosy cheeked apricots
1.5-3 ounces/36-72g sugar or honey depending on the sweetness of the fruit
1/2 vanilla bean, scraped
1, 1/2'' wide strip of lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons water

1. Remove the pits from the apricots by gently tearing the fruit in half. Add the pitted apricot halves, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and pod, lemon zest, lemon juice and water to a medium saucepan and stir gently to combine.
2. Cook the mixture on medium low heat until the sugar dissolves and the apricots begin to release their juices. Turn the heat up to medium and gently simmer the apricots, stirring occasionally, until they are very soft and beginning to fall apart, but not completely mushy. About 10-15 minutes. Taste the apricots and add a bit more sweetener if desired.
3. Remove the vanilla bean pod and reserve it for another use, remove the strip of lemon zest and serve the apricots warm or cold. If there are any leftovers, store them in the fridge.

Yeast Raised Waffles

I haven't been very good at sleeping in since I started working early mornings at the bakery. My one and only, on the other hand, is a champion morning sleeper. Most Saturdays I get up an hour or two before him to tiptoe around our apartment, make a big pot of coffee and do a little breakfast scheming. Last weekend I started my scheming a little early because I knew that I wanted these most delicious waffles as a special treat, and I knew that the batter needed an overnight rest. You see, these babies are raised with yeast which gives them the most incredible flavor and light, crisp texture. Don't let the yeast dissuade you beacause the batter comes together so quickly and easily. Then the next morning you can give yourself a few extra cozy minutes in bed (or if you are like me, force yourself to stay in bed for a few minutes) and when you're ready for breakfast, stir some eggs and baking soda into your batter, heat up your waffle iron, and most likely eat more waffles than you intended. I ate three.

Marion Cunningham's Yeast Raised Waffles
adapted from Orangette

1/2c warm water
1 package (2 1/4 tsp) dry yeast
2 cups whole milk, warmed (full disclosure, I used almond milk here and I don't think these waffles suffered one bit)
1/2c unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1t salt
1t sugar
2c all purpose flour
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4t baking soda

1. Pour the water into a large mixing bowl, then sprinkle the yeast over top and let sit for about 5 minutes to give the yeast a chance to dissolve
2. Add the milk, butter, flour, salt and sugar to the yeast mixture. Whisk until smooth. Cover bowl with plastic and let the mixture sit overnight at room temperature.

The Next Morning

1. Heat your waffle iron and while it's heating mix the beaten eggs and baking soda into the waffle batter.
2. Cook the waffles according to your machine's specifications. I have this model that I lovingly call Tina Fey (she was in the hardware store when my bf and I bought it!). Anyway, for my machine, I use a full 1/3c of batter and it works like a charm. Cook until golden and crisp and douse in maple syrup or alternate worthy topping.