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Home » Desserts » Spiced Poached Quinces Dessert

Published: Jan 21, 2021 · Modified: Jan 23, 2021 by Yusuf

Spiced Poached Quinces Dessert

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This Poached Quinces Recipe uses the natural delicate and aromatic flavors of the quince fruit and blends it beautifully with cinnamon, star anise, and orange zest. It is the perfect autumn and winter dessert that is both incredibly easy to make and requires minimal effort and preparation time.

Poached quinces in a white baking pan topped with crumbled pistachio and clotted cream, with a spoon in it.

You can simply combine the ingredients and leave them to poach! And, what makes this recipe even better is that you can easily change or substitute the flavoring ingredients to meet your needs!

These spiced poached quinces are a staple recipe in Turkish cuisine and it is the most common way to cook quinces. Not only does it utilize the natural flavors of the quinces when they’re at their finest, but it also blends it with other easy to find spices. Looking for a savory recipe with quince fruit? Check out our Turkish Celeriac Recipe With Quince Fruit.

Today we will be having a look at this underrated fruit, the quince. We will discuss what exactly it is, and also how it should be cooked and eaten. Then we will look at this delicious quince dessert recipe, how to make it, and how to serve it as well.  

Jump to:
  • What is a Quince Fruit?
  • How To Eat Quinces
  • How to Poach a Quince Fruit?
  • Tips About Quince Dessert Recipe
  • How To Cook Quinces (Besides Poaching)
  • More Easy Fruit Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments
Turkish style quince dessert served with pistachio and clotted cream on a plate.

What is a Quince Fruit?

A quince is a very unique fruit that is not very well-known in all parts of the world. This fruit is a close relative of apples and pears and also resembled them closely in look and texture.

They are golden yellow in color and their shape generally resembles those of pears. Ripe quinces should be hard, and if you have a soft one, it’s close to spoilt. Once cut, the inside of a quince has a very hard and spongy texture that isn’t very appetizing to eat raw.

But, don’t let the unappealing shape and texture fool you. Once you’ve tasted this amazing quince fruit, you’ll have a craving for the rest of your life!

The aromas of quinces are very complex and rich with strong hints of apple, pears, vanilla, and citrus fruits. These prominent flavor ques make it very easy to pair other ingredients with the quince.

As we’ve already mentioned, raw quince can be very hard and spongy, but some varietals less so than others. This is why the majority of people cook their quinces before eating them. Once the quince fruit is cooked the texture softens and the sweeter flavors come through.

If you have a variety that can be appetizing raw, rather eat slices than chunks. Raw quinces still have a generally sour and tangy flavor that might not appeal to everyone. On the other hand, they might become your favorite snack if they are juicy enough.

These fruits are also extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For more amazing facts on their various health benefits, read more about the health benefits of quinces.

How To Eat Quinces

Raw quinces aren’t appetizing to eat. They have an extremely hard and spongy texture and their flavor is sour and bitter. Some varieties are much more edible raw, but generally, everyone can agree cooked quinces are a safer choice.

The quickest and easiest method would have to be boiling them, although there is so much more you can do.

Quinces can be eaten as is (once cooked), made into a jelly or jam, incorporated into baked goods like tarts and pastries, or made into another type of dessert, like quince-flavored ice cream or quince-flavored custard.

Despite requiring some work before it can be used, it is a very versatile ingredient with very pungent and playful flavors and aromas.

Quinces, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, orange, sugar, pistachio, hibiscus, star anise, clotted cream are all on a dark background.

How to Poach a Quince Fruit?

This poached quince recipe is very easy to make and yields an extremely flavorful and beautifully colored dessert. You can make them in advance and store them until you're ready to serve them!

Peeled and halved quince fruit, pistachios, hibiscus leaves and orange on a dark background.
Peeled and halved quinces in a pot wih cinnamon sticks, rosemary leaves and star anise on a dark background.

First, make the sugar syrup. Combine the water and sugar in a medium-sized pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and allow it to simmer until all of the sugar has dissolved.

Second, prepare the quinces. Halve the quinces without removing the seeds inside. These seeds help add color to the syrup (and quince) and the pectin inside them acts as a natural thickening agent, creating a much thicker syrup.

Third, add the quince and other flavoring ingredients to the pot. Once the sugar has dissolved and the quinces are prepared, add the quince to the syrup along with the hibiscus leaves, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and rosemary.

Fourth, cook the quinces. Cook the quinces for about 1 hour with the lid on. They should be cooked until they are tender, but not mushy.

Fifth, cool the poached quinces and serve. Once the quinces have finished cooking, remove them from the syrup, place them in a serving dish, and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, chill them in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Before serving, top each half with some clotted cream and chopped pistachios.

Quinces poached with spices in a pot.

Tips About Quince Dessert Recipe

If you want a more caramelized poached quince dessert, preheat the over to 350°F (180°C) while they are still poaching. Once finished, place the halves on a lined baking tray and bake them for about 5 minutes.

If you don’t have a pot lid, you can also cover the pot with a parchment paper lid. Simply cut out a circle that will fit inside your pot, and cut a small hole in the middle that will allow steam to escape.

How To Cook Quinces (Besides Poaching)

The most popular way to cook quinces is to poach them, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be prepared in other ways.

Another delicious and personal favorite is baked quinces. These have a very caramelized flavor and soft yet sticky texture. It is also very easy to flavor these quinces by simply making a flavored syrup and brushing it over the fruits before baking.

Steamed quiches are a much lesser-known, but equally delicious cooking method. You can either steam them in the traditional way or make use of the French "en papillote” method. This method places the item inside a parchment paper parcel along with other flavoring ingredients. While the parcel is baking, the steam that is released gets trapped and helps infuse the item with the flavors from the other ingredients.

Poached quince fruit served on a plate with pistachios and clotted cream, a white pan with the rest of the quinces, a knife and a fork on the side.

More Easy Fruit Recipes

  • Easy Cinnamon Baked Pears Recipe
  • Fresh Fig Tahini Snack
  • Spiced Apple Compote Dessert
  • Easy Pan-Seared Peaches
  • Baked Figs Recipe
  • Turkish Style Pumpkin Sweet Recipe
  • Fresh Peach Cobbler With Cake Mix
Print

📖 Recipe

Spiced Poached Quinces

Poached quinces in a white baking pan topped with crumbled pistachio and clotted cream, with a spoon in it.

Simple poached quince dessert recipe with spices. A super light fruit dessert flavored with served with clotted cream and pistachios.

  • Author: Zerrin
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: Turkish
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 cup water
  • 3 quince fruit
  • 2 tablespoon hibiscus, for coloring only
  • Zest of one orange
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 star anise
  • 1 rosemary sprig

For garnish:

  • clotted cream
  • pistachios

Instructions

  1. Boil water and sugar in a pot until sugar dissolves.
  2. Halve the quinces, don’t remove the seeds, they will help the color and give a consistency to the syrup inside as well because they have a natural pectin (thickener).
  3. Place the halved quinces in the pot.
  4. Put the hibiscus leaves, orange zest, cinnamon sticks, star anise and rosemary on the quinces. 
  5. Cook them covered until the quinces are tender but not mushy, about 1 hour.
  6. Transfer the poached quinces in a serving dish and let them cool completely. Then chill them in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
  7. Top them with clotted cream and pistachios to serve.

Notes

 

  1. If you want a more caramelized quince dessert, bake them in a preheated oven for about 5 minutes after cooking them in the pot.

  2. The garnish ingredients are not included in the nutritions.

Keywords: quince, quince recipes, quinces, poached quince

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Claire says

    January 11, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Looks delicious and so easy to make!

    Reply
  2. Lindy says

    March 29, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    I have a tree laden with quinces and will try this recipe......I am always looking for new things to do with my quinces. I make quince paste and quince jelly

    Reply
  3. Tangled Noodle says

    March 19, 2009 at 6:53 am

    I also haven't eaten fresh quince before - only as a paste. What a marvelously simple yet delicious-looking dessert!

    Reply
  4. lisaiscooking says

    March 17, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    I don't ever see fresh quince in our local markets, but I'd love to try this!

    Reply
  5. vrinda says

    March 17, 2009 at 11:06 am

    Sounds delicious but i am not familiar with this fruit...

    Reply
  6. Sophie says

    March 17, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Zerrin, I just gave you an award!!!! Why???? Check out my latest post: my second award!!! Have fun with it!!

    Reply
  7. Sophie says

    March 17, 2009 at 2:40 am

    MMMM...Zerrin! This dessert looks superb!! Quinces were in the 1940's to the 1970's very popular!! Now, it is hard to find them in Belgium!! My grand- father has some trees in his fruitgarden!! Lucky him & me!!

    Reply
  8. Donna says

    March 16, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    I have got to look for these in my grocery store. This sounds so delicious, the simplest things are! I love how it looks, you presented it beautifully!

    Reply
  9. Reeni says

    March 16, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    This is so simple but so delicious!

    Reply
  10. Lauren says

    March 16, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    yum! I love the use of cloves in a dessert.

    Reply
  11. OysterCulture says

    March 16, 2009 at 3:52 pm

    I love quinces, but it was not until I moved to California that I really got to cook with them, I cannot wait to try out your recipe. I love the information you added about its medicial benefits. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Zerrin says

    March 16, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Sara and Natasha - I hope you'll find and try this wonderful dessert.

    Reply
  13. Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says

    March 16, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Sounds delicious! I will look in my store for them too!

    Reply
  14. Sara says

    March 16, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    I just love quinces, I think they're such an underutilized ingredient. This looks fabulous, I'm going to have to check and see if my market still has some left so I can make it!

    Reply

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