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Turkish Raisin Compote — Üzüm Hoşafı

Chilled raisin compote with cloves

How to say itew-ZEWM hoh-shah-FUH
Approximate pronunciation

An English approximation; Turkish ü is a rounded front vowel. The written guide is an approximation for English readers.

Simmering raisins turns a handful of dried fruit into a refreshing spoonable accompaniment. Serve the fruit together with its fragrant cooking liquid, well chilled.

By MyTurkishRecipes ·
Plump cooked raisins in clear amber compote liquid in a glass bowl beside a spoon.

Isparta’s regional archive records raisin hoşaf with cloves, sweetened with sugar or pekmez. This small-batch version uses sugar and a gently sweet liquid.

Üzüm Hoşafı — Recipe Card

Chilled raisin compote with cloves

Makes 6 servings · Makes 6 small bowls; divide both fruit and liquid evenly.
Prep5 mins
Cook25 mins
Cooling and chilling2 hr 30 mins
Total3 hr
Measurements
Make a little more

US cup = 240 ml · tablespoon = 15 ml · teaspoon = 5 ml. Cup and weight conversions are approximate. Australian cooks: use a 15 ml measuring tablespoon.

Ingredients

How to make Üzüm Hoşafı

  1. Rinse

    Pick over the raisins, discard stems and rinse under running water. Drain.

  2. Simmer

    Bring raisins and water to a boil, then simmer gently for 15 minutes. Stir in sugar and add the 4 cloves. Simmer another 10 minutes until the fruit is tender. Remove all cloves.

  3. Chill

    Transfer to shallow heatproof containers. Let steam subside for 30 minutes, then refrigerate at 4°C (40°F) or below within 2 hours of cooking, or 1 hour above 32°C (90°F). Chill for at least 2 hours and serve fruit and liquid together.

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A few helpful kitchen notes

  • Ingredients

    Use plain seedless raisins and whole cloves, without flavoured coatings or spice blends. The listed ingredients support vegan and gluten-free labels; check substitutions.

  • Sweetness

    The raisins contribute sweetness too. This version uses 100 g sugar; it is a chilled compote, not a preserving syrup.

How to store and reheat Üzüm Hoşafı

Keep covered at 4°C (40°F) or below and use within 2 days. Serve with a clean spoon and return the remaining compote to the refrigerator promptly.

Üzüm Hoşafı: questions and answers

Do I strain it?

No. Divide the plump raisins and their cooking liquid between the bowls.

Can I omit cloves?

Yes, omit the 4 cloves and keep all other quantities and timings unchanged.

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