Skip to main content

Poached Apricot Halves

Keep the apricots submerged in the poaching liquid, or they will turn brown. Mixed with seltzer water, the poaching liquid makes a refreshing apricot fizz.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 24

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
3 strips (about 2 inches long) fresh lemon peel, pith removed
2 thin slices fresh ginger
7 cardamom pods, cracked
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
12 small ripe apricots, halved and pitted (about 1 1/2 pounds)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a 4- to 5-quart pot over medium heat, combine 4 cups water with the sugar, lemon peel, ginger, cardamom, and vanilla scrapings. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cook until the sugar dissolves, and then reduce heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, until the liquid has thickened slightly, about 10 minutes.

    Step 2

    Add the apricots to the pan. Rinse a double thickness of cheesecloth under cold water, and drape it over the apricots so all the fruit is covered by the cloth and submerged in the liquid.

    Step 3

    Continue simmering until the apricots soften slightly, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool completely. Use immediately, or transfer the apricots and poaching liquid to a storage container. Make sure the apricots are completely submerged in the liquid. Refrigerate, covered, up to 4 days.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Like “absolutely decadent” chocolate pudding and fattoush salad.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
The most efficient method takes less than an hour, but you might not even need it.