Some time ago I had very ripe oranges available but I didn’t want to make the classic jam that requires a lot of sugar. Instead I wanted an easy orange compote with very little sugar. I found many recipes online, especially the classic English marmalade, but they were all quite laborious.
Then I came across some recipes that did not require the use of added pectin because it is already present in the white part under the orange peel, which I didn’t know. So I ended up using only two ingredients, water excluded! One recipe in particular caught my attention and I used it for the ingredients and procedure but I simplified it further, reducing the work and preparation time to only 5 minutes.
Result: it’s not a jam but it’s definitely a very easy orange compote, vegan, full of fruit pieces, slightly bitter just like marmalade and it costs only 1 Weight Watchers point for a generous serving: I’m happy because I’ve already made it many times. Let’s see how I did it.
For other fruit compotes read here:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Cooking time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
- Portions: 18 oz total
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter and Spring
Ingredients
- 4 oranges (ripe and not surface-treated)
- 3.9 oz sugar (about 8 measuring tablespoons)
- 1.25 cups water
- Total points (18 oz) = 12 WW points
- Points per generous portion (1.4 oz) = 1 WW point
Tools
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Pot
- Wooden spoon
- Jars
Steps
Wash the oranges very well and remove the tougher top cap. Cut the oranges, peel included, into small pieces, removing only any seeds and the internal white thread.
Put everything into a large pot and just cover with water. Put the lid on and wait until it starts to boil.
Cook over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add the sugar and stir well. Cover, wait for it to come back to a boil and let simmer over low heat for another hour or until it reaches the consistency you desire.
I let it reduce a lot and obtained about 520 grams in total.
Our orange compote is ready! You can let it cool or put it immediately into jars to sterilize. I prepared two jars: one to use right away and one I froze. In any case, if left in the fridge it will last up to 4-5 days.
The final consistency is a very personal matter; I liked it quite thick so you can feel it well under your teeth, but if you prefer it more liquid just cook it a little less or, after the two hours of cooking, add a bit of water until you get the desired consistency. You can also use an immersion blender to mash it more: use it intermittently or it will turn into a puree!
About the flavor: this orange compote is delicious: bitter in the right way and fantastic spread on bread or even better on a layer of light creamy cheese.
Try it: making it is insanely simple and if you like it sweeter just increase the sugar a little and count the extra points. Had I known earlier that making an orange compote was this simple I would have avoided spending a lot of money on very expensive organic jams. I’m waiting for your feedback…
Enjoy!
by Giovanna Buono
Notes and storage
This compote keeps in the fridge for 4-5 days or you can freeze it for at least 5 months. You can also sterilize the jars so it will last much longer outside the fridge.
Source: Marmalade is way easier than it looks
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use more sugar?
Certainly you can, but don’t overdo it. Remember that every extra 10 grams of sugar you use will add 1 WW point to the total weight of the compote. Then divide by the number of desired portions.
