Poached Quince with Black Cardamom & Vanilla
Soft, rosy-hued quince poached in a gently spiced infusion of black cardamom, vanilla, and lemon. A quiet, luxurious winter dish — subtly sweet, complex, and grounding.
Servings 4 1 medium quince per person (quartered or halved)
Calories 100kcal
Ingredients
- Fruit & Spiced Syrup
- 4 fresh quince peeled, quartered, cored (do not discard peel)
- 4 cups filtered water
- 3 –4 black cardamom pods cracked
- 1 vanilla bean split (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 3 tbsp allulose or Swerve or up to ⅓ cup if you prefer sweeter
- Optional: 1 tbsp Swerve Brown for deeper flavor
Instructions
- Step 1: Prep the Quince
- Peel quince and cut into quarters (or halves if smaller).
- Save the peels and seeds — they contain natural pectin and help the syrup develop a rosy hue and body.
- Step 2: Poach
- In a wide, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine water, sweetener, cracked cardamom pods, vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, and quince peels/cores.
- Add the quince quarters. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cover with parchment or a lid slightly ajar and simmer gently for 60–75 minutes, until the quince is tender and rosy.
- You can simmer longer (up to 90 min) for a deeper pink hue — depending on the variety.
- Step 3: Strain & Reduce Syrup
- Carefully remove quince and set aside.
- Strain poaching liquid and discard solids.
- Return liquid to pot and reduce over medium-high heat for 10–15 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Step 4: Serve
- Serve quince warm with syrup spooned over, or chill for later use.
- Optional: Add a dollop of whipped mascarpone, coconut cream, or serve atop low-carb yogurt or panna cotta.
- Garnish with a cracked cardamom pod, rosemary tip, or pistachios.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate (per serving, 1 quince + 2 tbsp syrup)
- Calories: ~100
- Fat: 0 g
- Net Carbs: ~10–12 g (quince is naturally higher carb but low GI)
- Protein: 0 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
🌟 Culinary Notes
- Black cardamom is more smoky and complex than green — it adds depth, not sweetness.
- Allulose or Swerve gives syrup body without increasing net carbs.
- Poached quince stores well and continues to deepen in color and flavor over 24–48 hours.
🛡️ Consumer Safety Note
⚠️ Ensure all cardamom pods are removed before serving unless used for garnish. Quince should be fully cooked and soft for proper digestion — never eaten raw.
