Vanilla bean winter fruit salad
Ingredients:
4 cups water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 star anise
1/2 plump vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
4 (2 inch) pieces lemon zest
8 dried apricots, cut in half
4 dried figs, quartered
3 pears, peeled, cored, sliced
1 apple, peeled, cored, sliced
Juice of 1 lemon
Seeds from half a pomegranate
Directions:
1. Add water, sugar, star anise, vanilla bean and lemon zest to a medium-sized saucepot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Continuing boiling until all the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
3. Let it cool a few minutes and stir in apricots and figs before allowing to fully cool.
4. Toss apples and pears with lemon juice.
5. Pour the syrupy dried fruit mixture over the apples and pears.
6. Cover well and chill overnight.
7. When you're ready to serve, using a slotted spoon, ladle the fruit into a bowl and top with pomegranate seeds.
4 cups water
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 star anise
1/2 plump vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise
4 (2 inch) pieces lemon zest
8 dried apricots, cut in half
4 dried figs, quartered
3 pears, peeled, cored, sliced
1 apple, peeled, cored, sliced
Juice of 1 lemon
Seeds from half a pomegranate
Directions:
1. Add water, sugar, star anise, vanilla bean and lemon zest to a medium-sized saucepot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Continuing boiling until all the sugar is dissolved, stirring occasionally.
3. Let it cool a few minutes and stir in apricots and figs before allowing to fully cool.
4. Toss apples and pears with lemon juice.
5. Pour the syrupy dried fruit mixture over the apples and pears.
6. Cover well and chill overnight.
7. When you're ready to serve, using a slotted spoon, ladle the fruit into a bowl and top with pomegranate seeds.