Recipe: Nearly candied quince

Nearly candied quince

50 minutes, plus about 2 hours baking. Serves 8 to 12

3 cups water or 2 cups Riesling plus 1 cup water

1 1/2 cups sugar

Zest of 1 tangerine or 3 wide strips orange zest

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds

3 cloves

4 to 6 large quince (about 1 pound)

1/4 cup late-harvest Riesling, Muscat or other dessert wine

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the water (or diluted wine), sugar, zest, cinnamon and spices in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then simmer over low heat while you prepare the quince.

2. Peel the quince, cut them into wedges about three-fourths-inch wide at the center and remove the cores; you should have about 4 cups. Put them in a shallow dish, like a gratin dish. Pour two-thirds of the syrup over the fruit, including the spices. Bake, uncovered, for about 2 hours, turning the fruit every 30 minutes for the first 1½ hours and then more frequently during the last 30 minutes, as the syrup will be well-reduced by then. You want it to caramelize and thicken but not burn. When done, the quince should be nearly translucent and slightly rosy.

3. Remove from the oven and immediately add the dessert wine. At this point, you can serve either warm or at room temperature, or refrigerate, covered with the syrup.

EACH OF 12 SERVINGS

Calories 116

Protein 0

Carbohydrates 29 grams

Fiber 1 gram

Fat 0

Cholesterol 0

Sugar 25 grams

Sodium 1 mg

NOTE: Adapted from Deborah Madison’s “Seasonal Fruit Desserts.”