In Polish homes, on Christmas Eve, apart from carp, red borscht and dumplings, dried compote has also been served on the table for generations. The traditional drink is very popular during the holiday season due to its unique spicy and fruity aroma and taste, which are associated with winter, home warmth and the Christmas atmosphere.
However, there are also those who don’t like it because They find it too sweet. However, you can easily deal with this. You just need to slightly modify the recipe for dried compote by adding the appropriate ingredients. Don’t forget about them when preparing the drink, and the taste will be perfectly balanced. Your guests will be there “tear yourself away” the jug from his hands, demanding a second helping.
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Dried fruit compote (also called juha) is a traditional drink made of dried fruit, especially popular during Christmas. It is drunk by people from various regions of Poland, but it is especially popular in Silesia and Lesser Poland.
Some residents of the Bieszczady, Beskid Niski or Bory Tucholskie cannot imagine Christmas Eve dinner without it.because many of them are descendants of pre-war Lemkos who prepared this traditional compote.
Dried compote is worth drinking not only on Christmas Eve. Apart from sugar (which can be omitted), it is very healthy and aromatic. The dried fruits it consists of are a source of vitamins: C, A, K, B vitamins, potassium, iron and fiber.
A traditional recipe for juha, i.e. compote of dried fruits it’s not complicated. The only rule is that it must contain at least three types of fruit. This is one of the least demanding dishes you can serve to your guests on Christmas Eve.
However, it is worth modifying the recipe a bit by adding cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger or orange peel.to make the drink aromatic and its taste more expressive. It wouldn’t hurt to add pieces of orange, apricot or fig.
Ingredients for dried compote:
- dried fruit (including apples, pears and plums) – 500 g
- water – 3 liters
- sugar – 200 g (you can replace it with honey or reduce the amount if you want)
- favorite spices (e.g. cardamom, cinnamon, cloves)
How to make compote for Christmas Eve? Take out the dried fruit, pour cold water over them, wait a day, put them to boil, add sugar and mix thoroughly. Cook for about 40 minutes over low heat. Once it cools down, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
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Remember that the fruit cannot be smoked, only dried. In addition, there is one more inconspicuous ingredient that is worth adding to the dried compote so that it is not too sweet. To take away a bit of the bitter and sour taste, add a piece of grapefruit or lemon to the pot with juha.
