Hot or Cold Dried Fruit Salad

Dried Fruit Salad - MS Word document for downloading

Serves 4 - 6

I think dried pears are full of flavour and I love them in a dried fruit salad. You can buy packets of dried fruit salad mix, or make up your own. Check for preservative - I prefer to buy the mix without any sulphite, from the Health Food Store. I usually cook this, covered, in the oven, along with the main meal for that evening, or, if I’m really organised, for the following day, making good use of the oven heat.

Preparation time: 5 minutes the night before you want to eat it.

Cooking time: about 10-15 minutes in a saucepan, or about 1 hour in the oven at about 180C or Gas Mark 4.

Ingredients and Shopping List.

Serves 4-6

• 1500g (1lb) packet of dried fruit salad mix, or

• 125g (4oz) dried apples
• 125g (4oz) dried pears
• 125g (4oz) dried prunes
• 175g (6oz) dried apricots
• 500ml (1pt) apple juice
• 2 tablespoons Calvados or brandy (optional)
• 25g (1oz) flaked almonds or chopped nuts

To serve:

Yoghurt, crème fraiche or custard.

Method:

1. Place the dried fruits in a bowl, with the juice and soak overnight, covering the bowl with cling film.
2. The next day, either transfer to a saucepan and simmer for 10-15 mins, or transfer to the oven as detailed above.
3. Turn into the serving dish and pour over the Calvados or brandy, if using.
4. Sprinkle with the nuts.

Serve hot or cold.