Compote from frozen strawberries

Even out of berry harvesting season, you can indulge in refreshing drinks and feel the taste of summer. Compote from frozen strawberries is a great example of this; you only need to stock up on fresh gifts of nature in time and store them in the freezer. However, you can also use store-bought alternatives – there is a wide selection of frozen berries from various agro-industrial firms available in stores.

Yield: 7 servings (1.5 liters).

Caloric value: 27 kcal per 100 grams of the dish.

Cooking time: 25 minutes + some additional time for cooling the drink.

Ingredients

• frozen strawberries – 300 g;
• white sugar – 100 g;
• citric acid – 1 g;
• purified drinking water – 1.5 l.

Preparation

1. Prepare the ingredients for making compote from frozen strawberries. There is no need to take the strawberries out of the freezer in advance – the berries should remain frozen and firm until they are dropped into boiling water. Citric acid can be replaced with a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice.

2. Pour water into a pot – there should be space left to the rim (about 5 centimeters). Add sugar and stir.

3. Bring the solution to a boil over medium heat.

4. After 3 minutes, lower all the strawberries into the boiling water. Cover the pot with a lid. After boiling, let the berries simmer for 4-5 minutes.

5. Then add the citric acid, which will not only create a pleasant tartness but also keep the drink's color vibrant and prevent it from dulling. Mix everything.

6. Turn off the stove, cover the compote with a lid, and let it sit for 15 minutes. If it’s cold outside, take the pot out to the balcony so the drink cools down to room temperature faster. If it's warm outside, wait until the temperature of the compote matches the room temperature (remove the lid in this case).

7. Next, pour the strawberry drink into a pitcher and place it in the refrigerator until completely chilled. If desired, the compote can be diluted with boiled water – then its taste will not be as rich and sweet.

When serving, pour the chilled compote from frozen strawberries into tall glasses, adding a few mint leaves for extra freshness. In hot weather, several ice cubes added to the glasses will provide additional coolness. This way, you can make compote not only from frozen strawberries but also from other berries.