Easy Blueberry Compote Recipe With a Hint of Lemon (2025)

FAQs

What does lemon juice do to blueberries? ›

The tartness of lemon provides a bright and zesty contrast to the sweetness of blueberries. Lemon can enhance the flavor of blueberries by adding a touch of acidity that brings out their natural sweetness. Both lemon and blueberry are versatile flavors that can be used in a variety of dishes, from sweet to savory.

For a thicker and chunkier blueberry compote, almost like pie filling texture, remove the fruits about ⅔ of the way through the cooking time and allow the liquid to reduce by half. When you add the fruits back in, take it off the heat, it will thicken up further as it cools.

Combine 1 cup of the blueberries, water, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Cook over a medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Compotes are delicious served all by themselves as a dessert at the end of a meal. They are usually served warm but are sometimes chilled.

Blueberries pair especially well with certain foods, flavors and dishes that you simply have to try them at least once, if not over and over again. It's Blueberry Pairing 101. Lemon: At the very top of the list is sweet-tart blueberries and sharp lemon, an almost unbeatable combination.

Cucumber Blueberry: A refreshing and unique flavor combination; cucumber combines with blueberries to make a cool summer treat perfect in salads or summer drinks. Citrusy and fresh green notes from cucumber helps to bring out the natural sweetness and fragrant floral notes in fresh blueberries.

Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruit and sugar, and has a chunky texture. Jelly is made from fruit juice and sugar, and has a smooth, translucent texture. Compote is made from whole or large pieces of fruit that are cooked in a syrup made from sugar and water.

Combine fruit, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Optional: Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan. Continue to boil until the berries break down and the compote has thickened to desired consistency, or about 2 to 3 minutes.

Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To keep compotes for longer, freeze, in batches, in plastic containers so you can defrost only as much as you need. Spices Oriental flavours such as star anise, ginger and cardamom are fantastic for fruit with a rich flavour, such as plums and berries.

What is a fun fact about fruit compote? ›

The word compote is French for “mixture.” A compote is a dessert originating in 17th century France. The French believed that fruit cooked in sugar syrup balanced the humidity's effects on the body and led them to invent compotes. Recipes called for whole or pieces of mixed fruit in sugar syrup.

Benefits of Blueberry compote: It helps to prevent diarrhea Help against infections in the mouth, teeth and throat Improves hemorrhoides and colitis Normalizes blood circulation, helps improve blood circulation in the eyes and blood pressure.

For a thicker compote, you have two options.

You can choose to cook your strawberry compote down into a further reduction, or you can add a cornstarch slurry. To make a cornstarch slurry, whisk together 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water.

Whisk 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon water until smooth. Pour the slurry into the compote after it has broken down and simmer 1-2 minutes, or until thickened to your desired texture.

I love to serve compote over crêpes, french toast or a fresh baked baguette. Compote served warm over ice cream is a true delight. Compote is also delicious over yogurt or granola for a quick mid-week breakfast. I also greatly recommend serving a savory apple compote with duck breast magret or pork tenderloin.

“The acidity of lemons helps to prevent the browning of fruits,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN. “Specifically, it helps to inactivate the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the browning.” Beyond keeping fruit salad fresh, lemon can also help enhance its flavor.

Not only does the lemon juice add just the right amount of acidity to balance out the sweetness of your strawberries, but the zest also provides plenty of pectin to set your jam.

1Balancing Flavors

One of the primary reasons lemon and blueberries complement each other is the balance they create. Lemons are known for their tartness and acidity, which contrasts beautifully with the sweet and slightly tart nature of blueberries.

To prevent the effects of oxidation, fruit needs citric acid, and lemons are full of it. As a natural antioxidant, lemon juice can help prolong the life of fruit salad (as well as its visual appeal) by inactivating the enzyme polyphenol oxidase, which is responsible for the browning.