noun

compote

KOM-poht/ˈkɑːmpəʊt/

Fruit prepared by cooking or preserving it in syrup.

The fruit compote glistens in a glass bowl beside a spoon.

Glass bowl of cooked fruit pieces in glossy sweet syrup, spoon beside bowl, no label.

Etymology

“Putting together” gave a word for a mixture, which in this food sense became fruit preserved in syrup. Compote and compost thus share an origin despite their very different uses.

In context

GrowVeg5:03

There are many ways to enjoy the glorious gooseberry! In jams, pureed with elderflower cordial for drying into fruit leathers, or boiled with other fruits to make a tangy, sweet compote to dollop onto ice cream or yogurt.

Growing Gooseberries from Planting to Harvest

More examples

She spoons warm apple compote over her oatmeal.
Chill the peach compote before serving it with whipped cream.
The café serves two seasonal fruit compotes with its pancakes.

Forms

compote · compotes

Similar words

preserves: Usually thicker and more concentrated, with whole fruit or pieces.
jam: Made with crushed fruit and cooked to a spreadable consistency.