Sugar-Free Prickly Pear Compote, recipe in a pot and with Bimby.
From my land, a true delight for breakfast or a snack, or to fill croissants, pies, cookies, etc.
It is also a boon for health.
Just a little practice is needed to peel the fruits and then blend and strain the juice.
We will use Renette apples as a preservative since they contain pectin. Moreover, we will do a vacuum sealing.
In a brief step-by-step tutorial, I will explain how to peel prickly pears simply with a knife and fork.
Let’s get to know prickly pears.
This fruit is also rich in minerals and vitamins, particularly Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, and low in sodium, making it a recommended food for those suffering from water retention or hypertension.
Prickly pears help in weight loss, promote intestinal transit, prevent hemorrhoids, and lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
Prickly pears keep blood sugar levels low, therefore they can be consumed without problems by those who suffer from diabetes mellitus, they allow less fat and sugar absorption, help lower blood pressure, reducing stress on the cardiovascular system.
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- Difficulty: Medium
- Cost: Very cheap
- Rest time: 12 Hours
- Preparation time: 40 Minutes
- Portions: 4 jars of 1 cup each
- Cooking methods: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter
- Energy 20.93 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 19.89 (g) of which sugars 1.04 (g)
- Proteins 0.33 (g)
- Fat 0.21 (g) of which saturated 0.03 (g)of which unsaturated 0.12 (g)
- Fibers 1.61 (g)
- Sodium 2.06 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 2 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
Let’s go shopping
- 2.2 lbs prickly pears (net weight of juice 28 oz)
- 7 oz Renette apples
- 10.6 oz erythritol
- 0.21 oz agar agar
- Half lemon juice (from one lemon)
Sugar-Free Prickly Pear Compote
Tools
What we need to make the
- 1 Serrated Knife
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Pot or the Bimby
- 1 Immersion Blender or the Bimby
- 1 Strainer
- 4 Jars with lid 8.8 oz
- 1 Fork
Steps
Preliminaries
Sanitize the jars during preparation:
Place the jars and lids in a large pot, completely covering them with water. Bring to boil over medium heat and let them boil for 30 minutes.
When done, turn off the flame and keep them warm by closing the pot with the lid. Carefully remove the jars and lids with the help of tongs and dry them completely with a clean cotton cloth.
Peel the Prickly Pears
The first thing to do is to keep the fruits immersed in water for at least 1 hour.
Gently stir the fruits with a wooden spoon, but do not handle them roughly.
Now spear one with the fork using only the tips of the fork’s prongs
Take the knife and remove the right end,
and the left without cutting all the way down.
Place the fruit vertically and cut the skin with a knife blade for about 1/16 inch without touching the pulp, cut across the fruit.
Now with the knife blade try to lift the edge of the peel.
Slowly making your way between peel and pulp.
Slowly peel off the skin completely
and there you go.
Gather the fruits, put them in a pot, and blend them with an immersion blender
Strain the juice, using a sieve with not too fine holes and a spoon.
Weigh the juice to obtain 28 oz of product.
Cut the apple into cubes and blend it with the prickly pear juice if you want a smooth compote, otherwise, if you prefer a chunkier compote, leave the apple pieces whole
Put the juice in the pot with the sweetener and lemon juice.
Place on heat, and from the moment it boils, cook for 1 hour.
Afterward, add the agar agar, stir, and cook for another 5 minutes.You will notice that this compote is not as thick as others, in fact, it seems rather liquid, but once cooled, it will solidify with the effect of agar agar.
Now it’s time to pour the mixture into the jars up to below the threading. Tighten the jar well and immediately turn it upside down until completely cooled
Once the jars are cold, you can store them in the pantry.
Put the prickly pear pulp in the mixing bowl. Blend for 10 sec. speed 10.
Strain the juice, using a sieve with not too fine holes and a spoon.
Weigh the juice to obtain 28 oz of product.
Add the apple cubes, lemon juice, and sweetener.
Place the Varoma container (without the lid) instead of the measuring cup, cook: 55 min./203°F/speed 1.
Add the agar agar and continue cooking for another 5 minutes at 203°F speed 1
If after the time the jam still seems liquid, continue cooking always with the Varoma container instead of the measuring cup: 10 min./Varoma/speed 1.
You will notice that this compote is not as thick as others, in fact, it seems rather liquid, but once cooled, it will solidify with the effect of agar agar.
The compote is ready, immediately pour it into the sanitized jars while still hot. Close immediately, and turn the jars upside down, letting them cool completely before returning them to their position.
Warnings and Storage Notes
Warnings:
If the vacuum seal has not formed, the jam must be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 7 days.
Storage:
Label the jars with the name and date of preparation before storing them in the pantry.
The jam can be stored for several months in a place away from light, cool and dry.
If you want to extend the duration of the compote, it is advisable to pasteurize the jam jars:
Once the jars are hermetically sealed with new lids, place them in a pot spaced apart using a clean towel to prevent them from bumping into each other, completely covering them with cold water and cooking them for 20 minutes from the beginning of the boil.
Let them cool completely before removing them from the saucepan, check that they are intact, dry them and store them in a dry environment away from sources of light and heat.
Variations: to give the compote a different flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla powder along with the fruit.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Sugar-Free Prickly Pear Compote
Can all types of prickly pears be used?
Yes, any color is fine.
