Wednesday, August 28, 2013

What did I do with those pear peels???

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The first time I heard the word "compote" here in the States, I was surprised to find out that it's not exactly what we use this word for in Russia. Back at home "compote" (or "kompot") is a delicious drink made from fresh or dried fruit or berries.

Every time I make applesauce or can pears, I just feel wrong throwing away all the peels. So I started making kompots from it. It's pretty easy to make, tastes delicious, and did I mention all the preserved vitamins? Such a great alternative to soda for kids.

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So you will need:

  • 3 quarts water
  • peels from 10-12 pears
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 TB lemon juice plus a couple of slices of fresh lemon
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
  • a handful of raisins

How-to:

1. Fill a big pot with 3 quarts of water and add 2 TB lemon juice.
2. As you are working with your pears (for example, for canning pears), put all the peels into the pot:

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3. When you are done, put the pot on the stove and add all the rest of the ingredients. Cover.
4. Bring to boil and cook on medium-high for 10-15 minutes.
5. Turn the stove off and let sit until completely cooled down.
6. Strain. I usually use cheese cloth if I make it with cinnamon to make it a little clearer. Refrigerate. That's it! All that is left is to enjoy my kind of "champagne" :)

PS - and if you decide to use whole fruit (because it's even yummier), just adjust sugar to taste, depending on how sweet your fruit is. You can also add other fruits and berries - like plums, strawberries, peaches (but not their skins!) - to kompot.

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I shared this post with these awesome parties:

This Gal Cooks   I should be mopping the floor  Homemaker on a Dime   Under the Table and Dreaming 

24 comments:

  1. Wow! Really awesome idea! Thanks for the recipe!

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  2. I don't do canning or bottling as it's called here in the UK. but using the peel to make juice is a great idea.
    Carolx

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    1. You don't even have to can! Back home, we actually make compote out of bruised otherwise non-presentable fruit too. The possibilities are endless! All you have to do is adjust sugar and lemon juice to taste.

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  3. Do you have a hard time separating the good peels from the bad spots you cut out while you are peeling the pears? I think that would be hard for me.

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    1. Not really :) I just peel each pear, quickly look through for bad peels and separate them. Unless your pears are very bruised, it only takes a few seconds.

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  4. What a great idea!!! I have never heard of something like this. Can it be done with apples too?

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    Replies
    1. Absolutely! But it will have a different taste :)

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  5. Wow that is a good idea! I'll bet that is a very refreshing juice too and I love that it's 'real', you know?

    Did you know you can use apple peels and cores to make apple jelly? I read this in one of my vintage magazines. To use the apples to make sauce or can for apple pie but keep the peels and cores, cover with water and use the resulting juice to make jelly. Just one more idea for 'leftovers' right? lol

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    Replies
    1. You know, I actually stumbled upon a recipe for pear jelly the other day! The only problem is that it takes forever to cook, and it's already too hot in here :) But I will definitely try to make it one day.

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  6. Thanks for sharing. I think I did the same thing one year because I couldn't bear to waste such good smelling skins, but I forgot about it and haven't done it since.

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    1. I don't make it as often as I should either :) But now I try to stretch everything, and you should see my little one gobbling it up :) Better than any juice :)

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  7. I haven't had pears in over a year now... can't wait for fall to get a bunch. One of my favorite fruits for sure. I remember back home my parents would make big peels (with plenty of fruit attached) for the older kids to munch on while they made baby fruit with the meat of the fruit.

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    1. When we were kids, we would eat all the peels too :) We didn't even have any vegetable peelers growing up, and I remember sitting around the table while my Mom was preparing apples and pears for canning and just munching on the peels. That, until we got older, and she would put us to work :)

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  8. Who knew!! This is a great idea. :)

    Lisa @Cents To Save

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  9. Replies
    1. Tastes refreshing too, especially right out of the fridge! Kids love it!!

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  10. What a great idea, Lena! We usually compost them; never thought of them being useful! Thanks for the great idea:)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kathy! I'm thinking of starting composting too next year but I don't know much about it!

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