How to cook dried fruit compote to make it delicious: recipe for Ukrainian Christmas uzvar

Dried fruit compote or uzvar is a traditional Ukrainian drink that is served during Christmas. It has not only religious significance, but is also very tasty, healthy and refreshing. That's why housewives often prepare it on regular days too.

FoodOboz tells you how to cook uzvar correctly to make it really tasty. To make sure that everyone likes the drink, you should follow some tips.

Ingredients

• dried fruits (apples, pears, prunes, raisins, apricots and others) - 200-300 g
• water - 2 liters
• sugar or honey - to taste
• cinnamon - 1 stick (optional)
• lemon - optional

Method of preparation

1. Prepare the dried fruits. Wash them thoroughly and cut into large pieces.

2. Put the dried fruit in a saucepan and cover with 2 liters of water.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so that the water is barely simmering and cook for 40 minutes. Sometimes the cooking time may be increased to 60 minutes or until the dried fruit is completely soft.

4. At the end, add sugar or honey.

5. Optionally, add a cinnamon stick and lemon slices to add freshness.

6. Cool, strain and serve the uzvar.

Main tips

• Use different dried fruits. This will give the drink a richer flavor.
• You can refuse the sweetener altogether, but then the uzvar will be a little tart. If you like sweet drinks, it is best to use honey.
• You can also add other spices. For example, cloves, star anise, or ginger will be a great option.