Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (2024)

Kompot z Truskawek

“Cool off with a pitcher of refreshing strawberry kompot, the perfect beverage for summer lunches and family get-togethers.”

How to pronounce it?
com-pot true-skav-kovyh
‘Play’ to hear:

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (1)
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The abundance of gorgeous summer fruit available right now is just begging to be used as much as possible.

And with the thermometer reaching 35 degrees today (95°F), I can’t think of anything better than a glass of chilled strawberry kompot (pronounced: com-pot).

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (2)

But Wait! What Is Kompot Exactly?

Kompot – a traditional Polish drink – is fundamentally a fruit decoction. It’s also popular across Eastern & Central Europe (among our Scandinavian friends as well!).

In summer, kompot served as a cold, refreshing drink. In winter, it’s offered warm – often with some extra spices and dried fruit.

Brewing kompot at home is quick and simple.

How do I know that? Well, I read “Kuchnia Polska”. It’s the 1960s-70s Polish cookbook-slash-“recipe bible”.
I followed the instructions from there and was *amazed* by the results!

How To Make Kompot At Home?

Simply boil a large pot of water. In the meantime, wash and pit & peel (if necessary) raw fruit of your choice.

Right now we’re in the middle of the strawberry season in Poland, so I’m going with that. But you could also choose apples, pears, plums, apricots, rhubarb, berries, cherries, currants… options are endless.

As a rule of thumb, aim for a ratio of 500 grams (roughly 1 pound) of fruit per 1 litre (just under 4.5 cups) of water.

Chop larger fruit into pieces and drop them into boiling water.

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (3)

Switch heat to medium and cook harder fruit (apples, pears) for around 10 minutes. Softer fruits (berries, currants and such) need 3-4 minutes at most.

The key is to keep their shape intact, so don’t overcook them.

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (4)

Extra bits:

  • Additional sweeteners (sugar, honey) is optional, but I find that sweeter fruit need hardly needs any at all.
  • Dried fruit adds another dimension! Try with prunes, dried pears, apples, apricots, figs…
  • Herbs: Fresh mint and rosemary work nicely. Some recipes mention linden blossom and mullein leaves.
  • Spices: cloves, cinnamon, fresh ginger root, vanilla, star anise – all of these add aroma to kompot. Perfect for colder days.

Fun fact: Don’t make my mistake – kompot drink can be confused with its 300 years younger French sister: compote (a much thicker fruit dessert). While it’s perfect as a sweet treat, compote would be tricky to drink.

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (5)

From Canteens To The Gourmet Beverage Scene

Kompot was extremely popular until the ’80s. Then it got overturned by dizzy sodas and tetra-packed fruit juices.

Luckily, with a wave of nostalgia and a trend towards healthy living, kompot has returned to the Polish tables. You can still order it in Milk bars, but now it also makes regular appearances in hip bars & restaurants.

Kompot is a wonderful (and much healthier!) alternative to store-bought drinks and juices. Kids love it too, which is a bonus.

Don’t wait, give it a go yourself!

Question Time: What to do with the leftover fruit?
The fruit gets poured into a pitcher together with the liquid. Once you’re done drinking the liquid part, eat the remaining fruit with a fork. That’s a dessert on its own merit!

Yield: 6

Polish Strawberry Kompot

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (6)

Put those amazing strawberries to use with this summery kompot! It’s light, refreshing, and perfect for get-togethers. What more could you want?

Prep Time8 minutes

Cook Time10 minutes

Total Time18 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 litres (0,5 gallon) water
  • 500 g (approx. 1 lb) fresh strawberries
  • 125g (0.25 lb) rhubarb, chopped
  • 125g (0.25 lb) nectarines
  • 100g (8 tbsp) fine sugar
  • 1 tbsp citrus zest
  • a few mint leaves

Instructions

  1. Bring the water to boil in a large pot.
  2. Wash strawberries, remove the caps. If they're large, chop them. Keep small strawberries whole.
  3. Add sugar to the boiling water (optional), stir.
  4. Drop in the fruit. Reduce the heat to medium. If you're using harder fruit (apples, pears, rhubarb), cook for 10 minutes or so. If you're going for soft berries/currants only, 4 minutes is enough.
  5. Remove from heat. Serve warm or leave to chill.
  6. Serve with citrus zest / mint leaves or other add-ons of your choice.

Notes

  • I've replaced some strawberries with leftover rhubarb and 2 small nectarines. As long as the total fruit-to-water ratio is correct, you can mix and match!
  • I've adapted this recipe from "Kuchnia Polska" by Stanisław Berger (13th edition, 1969, pages 482-483)
  • You'll need an additional 2 hours to chill your kompot. You could also add some ice cubes in!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 80Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 0g

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (7)

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Recipe Information

Filed under:

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (8)

Drinks

all-Polish (Popular Nationwide)

Comfort Food, , Summer

Alternative traditional/regional names:

Also known / Misspelt internationally as:
Kompocik, Compote, Polish Fruit Drink

Tested by:

First published on:

Recipe by / Adapted from:

Story by:

Bibliography / References:

Polish Kompot: Strawberry Fruit Drink [RECIPE!] | Polonist (2024)

FAQs

What is kompot made of? ›

You only need two ingredients to make it—fruit, and water. The basic ratio is one part fruit to four parts water. Some kompot recipes call for sugar, but if the fruit is sweet and ripe enough, you really don't need it.

Is kompot alcoholic? ›

As a drink, kompot is a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage that may be served hot or cold, depending on tradition and season.

How do you eat kompot? ›

Some people like to strain kompot before drinking, while others like to eat the fruit. Kompot can be served warm, at room temp, or cold. (I personally like it cold.) If you're gonna leave your kompot in the fridge to enjoy over the next few days, leave the fruit inside as the flavor will keep intensifying.

Is kompot bulgarian? ›

This sweet, cold drink is refreshing on a hot summer's day and, in the winter, Bulgarian children enjoy kompot as part of the traditional Christmas celebration. Feel free to use your favorite fruit to make this recipe your own. Mint could even be added for fresh flavor.

Is kompot good for you? ›

It is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Kompot is great to make during summer months when so many seasonal fruits and berries are available. You may have also heard of Uzvar , which is a variation of Kompot. Uzvar is made with dried fruits when the fresh fruits are not in season.

What is a famous Polish drink? ›

Last but not least, Żubrówka is the best known Polish booze in the world: you can probably buy it wherever you live since it's available in 80 different countries. Also known as Bison Grass Vodka, it contains a bison grass blade in every bottle.

What's the difference between compote and kompot? ›

Compote. While the terms “kompot” and “compote” may sound similar, they refer to slightly different culinary creations. Kompot is a beverage made by cooking fruits or berries with water, whereas compote typically refers to a sweet, thickened fruit mixture often served as a dessert or accompaniment to other dishes.

What does kompot taste like? ›

Flavor: The flavor of kompot is a balance of super sweet sugar and fruity strawberries. Texture: The texture of kompot is silky smooth like juice, with the addition of the floating stewed fruit (if you don't prefer the texture, feel free to strain the strawberries out).

How long does kompot last in the fridge? ›

It should be held no longer than its most vulnerable ingredient, which would be the weak sugar syrup, so it is probably good for several days to a week in the refrigerator. Now, in general, things named compotes tend to be far sweeter, and far more acidic than the recipe you have linked to.

What is the shelf life of kompot? ›

Kompot, not to be confused with the American 'compote', is a traditional Eastern European way of preserving fruit in a flavored beverage, without actually pressing or juicing it. This method actually allows for a much longer shelf-life allowing you to enjoy the juice for a couple of weeks rather than a couple of days.

Is fruit compote served warm or cold? ›

Compotes are delicious served all by themselves as a dessert at the end of a meal. They are usually served warm but are sometimes chilled.

What is the most popular drink in Bulgaria? ›

If you have just arrived in Bulgaria and are still curious to taste the vast variety of authentic Bulgarian meals and drinks, undoubtedly the most traditional and emblematic alcoholic beverage to start your night with is the local rakia.

What is the national drink of Bulgaria? ›

Rakija - the national drink of Bulgaria. Rakia is a traditional Bulgarian fruit brandy. Almost no Sunday meal in Bulgaria goes by without the tasty Rakia rounding off the meal. Tourists know the rakia served by local restaurants and kitchens all too well.

What is Bulgaria's signature drink? ›

Rakia. If you are invited to a Bulgarian home, you are almost 100 percent sure to be offered a generous glass of rakia. This strong alcohol is distilled from fruit, such as grapes, plums, pears, apricots and others. It's infused with Bulgarian national pride, since many people still produce their own homemade rakia.

Is compote just jam? ›

Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruit and sugar, and has a chunky texture. Jelly is made from fruit juice and sugar, and has a smooth, translucent texture. Compote is made from whole or large pieces of fruit that are cooked in a syrup made from sugar and water. It has a thicker texture than jelly.

What's the difference between compote and puree? ›

The Culinary Institute of America considers compote to be one of two types of fruit sauce: there's coulis, made with smooth, pureed fruit and then there's compote, which is a chunky mixture.

References

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