Instant* Cherry Compote

*Well, perhaps not quite instant

This is a delightfully quick and simple combination of tasty ingredients that will give you a treat for the weekend with hardly any washing up.

Cherry compote (before cooking)

Makes 4 portions

Ingredients

400 g / 14 oz bag of frozen cherries
1 orange
3 star anise

Method

Empty the bag of frozen cherries into a saucepan.

Throw the star anise into the saucepan.

Wash the orange. Grate the zest directly onto the cherries in the saucepan. Squeeze the juice from the orange directly into the saucepan. You may find that the juice from just half of the orange is enough.

Heat the ingredients until the cherries are well on their way to defrosting and the juice starts to boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer energetically for 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you simmer, the thicker the compote will be.

Allow the compote to cool. Remove the star anise (unless you enjoy eating them) and any orange pips that made a bid for freedom.

Serve in funky little glasses either just as it is, or with a generous tablespoon of natural full fat or greek full fat yoghurt, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a few seeds.