Cooked Quince with Raisins


I’m not sure I’ve ever tasted quince before, but I know it is the first time I have cooked with them. At first glance I thought the basket was full of pears at the farmers market. After another look I noticed that they were all golden-yellow and a bit larger than normal. I bought one which almost weighed a pound itself and grabbed the nearby flyer with this recipe on it. After some small talk with the cashier as I was leaving she called out to me it’s always fun to try new foods.

Wikipedia describes quince as being part of the apple and pear family. It depends on the variety but the type I had felt very hard and was too sour to eat raw, actually inedible. According to the article they are high in pectin and used mainly to make jams and jellies. The recipe I acquired used fresh lemon, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, crystallized ginger and raisins. The end result was delicious, I cooked the quince down until parts of the flesh almost melted and turned pink. This is a fruit that I definitely would cook with again.

Recipe is from, McClendon's Select Farmers market.

Ingredients:

4 quince
1/2 lemon, juice and peel
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
10 whole cloves
1 crystallized piece of ginger
1/2 cup raisins

To prepare:

Peel quince, cut in half and core. Cut into bite sized pieces.


*If too hard to cut through raw, place whole quince into a pot of boiling water, cover and simmer about 25 minutes.*

Place quince into a large pot with the lemon juice, lemon peel, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and raisins. Cook on low heat stirring occasionally about 20 minutes.

When quince is done cooking, they will turn a pinkish, cranberry color.




Comments

  1. Well how interesting! Love the simplicity and bet it is so tasty! Lovely!

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    1. Thanks Trisha, actually I have to say, this was really good, I have to figure out what to eat this on as it reminds me more of a condiment, or something you have just a small amount of.

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  2. I've heard of quince but wasn't sure exactly what it was–thanks for sharing about that! I will have to try using it sometime. Your recipe sounds like a good way to use it! :)

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    1. Hi Nancy, I heard of it before too, I know at Trader Joes they have some type of pre-made quince that they suggest having with cheese and crackers. Thanks for stopping by.

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  3. Cheri, I don't know if I've ever had quince either! Probably not...and I'm very curious now. Sounds to me like cooking it down the way you did was the way to go.

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    1. Hi Monica, it is a very interesting fruit, your right cooking it down made a very dish.

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  4. Thanks for posting this recipe, Cheri. I've never worked with quince before and I don't have a good excuse for it. This motivates me to try something new. This looks delicious!

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    1. Thanks Amy, I was a little leary myself, glad I gave it a try.

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  5. You've educate me today Cheri, I've never cooked with quince either but something that's part apple and part pear is something I want to get to know, yum!

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    1. Hi Chris, I know right, love apples and pears! Thanks!

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  6. I've never tried quince either and I had no clue what they tasted like. Sounds good though, huh?

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    1. Hi Abbe, this is kind of like a kicked up rustic apple sauce, if that makes any sense.

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  7. I love quince. This is a simple yet very tasty dessert, Cheri.

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    1. Thanks Angie, Nigel Slater has a pickled quince recipe I would like to try, I bet it is delicious!

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  8. I loved how they changed colour with cooking :)

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    1. Thanks Tandy, it is such a pretty color thats for sure.

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  9. This sounds like such a simple and fantastic way to cook with quince. I just last winter became acquainted with them, and now whenever I see them i get them!

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    1. Hi Phi, I can't wait to try other recipes with these as well, I read that back in the day some farmers would have many apple trees and then just 1 or 2 quince trees in the same orchard, not exactly sure why.

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  10. A wonderful combination! Quinces are so delicious.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  11. Replies
    1. Hi Theresa, they are delicious, but not edible raw, or at least the variety I had was like that.

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  12. I love the simplicity and the marvelous taste!!!!! wonderful!

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  13. I've never had quince im my life. I should try 'em asap!

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  14. I love quince and have made quince jam..:)

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    1. Hi Monique, I have heard that quince jam is delicious, would love to make a small batch.

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  15. The type you eat with cheese is membrillo, the Spanish name for it, or quince cheese. Which I haven't had in years. I was hoping to buy quince last month, but couldn't find them in the store that sold them last year. Partly as I would love to cook them for jam. And, like you I've never actually cooked with them. This recipe sounds very delicious. Were the spices okay? The reason why I ask is that quince are quite small over here (no bigger than a fat pear).

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    1. Hi Johnny, the spices were good, but I had 1 large one almost a pound and then 3 that were over a half a pound each, so you might not want to add the full amount of the spices. Thanks for letting me know about the quince cheese, will have to pick some up.

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  16. I had the same shock when I took a bite of them. I love their fragrance though and I think that's what fools you! They smell great but taste awful! This looks like a simple enough recipe, love their cooked colour.

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    1. Thanks Nazneen, I am going to try them again but next time in a jam and I will definitely be peeling them.

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  17. I love quince, Cheri, and can't wait to get my hands on some! This looks just delicious!

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    1. Hi Marcie, this was my first time preparing anything with quince, will try jam next time. Thanks!

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  18. I love to cook with quince. It's such an unusual and under-rated fruit. The quince must have taken on beautiful flavours with all those flavours - very Christmasy xx

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    1. Hi Charlie, it does still seem a little mysterious, very anxious to try a few more new recipes. Happy Holidays!

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  19. This looks delicious. Simple and perfect. I will have to see if we have quince available at our markets. D

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    1. Thanks Dena, this is a new food for us, but we really enjoyed the flavor.

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  20. I've never tried quince either! They are fairly hard to find around here, I think. But at least now if I get my hands on one, I'll know what to make!

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    1. Hi Joanne, this is a fruit I would buy again, but can never be eaten raw. Happy Holidays!

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  21. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for quince. I've bought quince paste for an appetizer, but have never cooked with it before :)

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    1. Hi Liz, I have seen quince paste at Trader Joe's, I think that it is used as an appetizer as well. Happy hunting!

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  22. Gosh, I don't think I'd recognize a quince if I saw it. Thanks for the photo. This looks like a simple and delicious dessert.

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  23. I rarely use quince for some reason. Weird, because I like the flavor. Maybe because I don't always see it at the grocery store? Anyway, this looks terrific -- thanks.

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    1. Hi John, quince was completely new to me, maybe it depends on where you live, anyway thanks for stopping by. Happy Holidays!

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  24. Love the fact that how simple yet tasty it is!! Will love to try soon!

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  25. I am not sure if I have tried them coz they look familiar and I have eaten something of this sort. however, the spices make it sound soooo good.

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  26. Isn't quince quintessentially English Christmas-y? Thank you for the how-to on preparing the fruit. Looks like it would lend itself to sweet and savory dishes...Very interesting indeed that it belongs in the apple-pear family and is a bit bitter, Nashi - the Asian pear - a fruit enjoyed by yours truly in the fall in Japan, was super sweet and juicy.

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    1. Hi Kim, will have to try Nashi, in fact I'm wondering if I might have already in a salad. Would love to visit Japan someday.

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  27. I have never had quince before. It looks so tempting that I have to give it a try soon. :)

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    1. Hi Ritu, it was new to me as well, so glad I did try it. Thanks for stopping by.

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  28. Quince really is an underutilized fruit. So yummy. Love your rendition w raisions. I can see it as stuffing for a streusel or on top of some warm cereal now that the weather was finally cooled a bit.

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    1. Hi Coco, great ideas, I will try on cereal. Thanks! Happy Holidays to you!

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  29. This looks yummy! I've never had quince before and don't think I've seen it in the stores in my area. But now I will look for it! :)

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    1. Thanks Tammy, so nice to hear from you. Happy Holidays!

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  30. Quince is underrated, I would love to try it your style - looks delicious :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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    1. Hi Uru, I would like to make jam next, just need the extra time. Happy Holidays to you!

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  31. I am one of those who have never eaten quince! I really does look like a pear and we love those. I hope I can find them in our local stores some time. Great recipe for them.

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    1. Thanks Susan , was thinking that this would make a great chutney as well. Happy Holidays to you!

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  32. I've never had quince before either! But now I have to try it when winter rolls around next year. I think I would have this on top of some ice cream perhaps :)

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    1. Hi Amy, oh that sounds like a great idea! Happy Holidays!

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  33. I've never tried a quince before either, but if these are anything like baked pears then I'm in! :-)

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    1. Hi Helen, they remind me of a cross between a pear and an apple, but they have to be cooked. Thanks for stopping by.

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  34. I don't think I've ever tried a quince either. Love how you cooked them with all those wonderful spices. Sounds delicious!

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    1. Thanks Kelly, next time I will try making a jam. Happy Holidays to you!

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  35. I haven't ever had quince myself - am so intrigued by it! I do love how you combined it with all those warming spices and raisins!

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  36. Interesting experiment. I've never cooked with quince either. Nice to read a post about it!

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  37. I love making quince paste to eat with cheese. I love cooking with quinces.

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    1. Hi Maureen, will add the paste to the list of things to try sounds delicious!

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  38. I have only cooked with quince once - I made Ottolenghi's quince stuffed with lamb, and they were wonderful. I love quince paste (like Maureen above) to serve with Manchego cheese. You might see it at Latino markets here called Dulce de Membrillo or Cajeta de Membrillo. I have to look in our market this week to see if any quince appear!

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    1. Hi David, someone else talked about the Membrillo cheese, will have to chase some down. Hope you having a great day.

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  39. yum! i've never cooked with quince...i'll now have to try!

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  40. I've seen so many lovely recipes for quince this year. Yours sounds like a lovely, easy introduction to the fruit!

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    1. Hi Teresa, next time I will try making a jam, keep hearing how delicious it is.

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  41. I love quinces and I love make jam with them:))

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  42. Jam would be wonderful out of the quince! I imagine the pectin is high?? I had quince, but never cooked it myself. Saving this!

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