Blood Orange Compote With Star Anise Food

BLOOD ORANGE & STAR ANISE FIZZ

Steps:

• Soak the blood oranges (skin on) in 100ml Grand Marnier for 3 hrs.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and tip the oranges, along with the soaking liquid, into a small roasting tin or ovenproof dish. Roast in the oven with the star anise for 30-40 mins or until the orange skins start to caramelise. Remove the skins and star anise, and purée the pulp in a food processor until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve and chill until needed.
• Mix 25ml of the purée with 1 tsp each of tequila and Grand Marnier per cocktail, and top with Prosecco or champagne to serve.

BLOOD ORANGE COMPOTE WITH STAR ANISE

Steps:

• Set aside the zest from 6 oranges.
• Peel & remove the white pith from all oranges; remove the seeds & cut the oranges into generous 1/4" thick slices. Arrange them in layers in a shallow serving bowl.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the water & sugar; heat & stir often until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minute Add zest of about 5 1/2 oranges (reserving the remaining for garnish) & star anise; reduce the heat to low & simmer, uncovered, until thick syrup has formed & the flavors have blended, about 1 hours (If not using creme de cassis, cook syrum about 45 min until thin).
• Remove the pan from the heat & discard the zest; stir in the creme de cassis. Pour the hot syrup over the oranges; cover & let stand at room temperature at least 1 hr & up to 12. If serving later, cover & refrigerate.
• To serve, julienne the remaining zest & sprinkl it over the top of the oranges.

BLOOD ORANGE COMPOTE WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Cut peel and white pith from blood oranges. Working over bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to re-lease orange segments into bowl. Combine 1 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice in medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add vanilla bean. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until liquid is syrupy, about 8 minutes. Stir in brandy and orange segments and any accumulated juices. Refrigerate until cold. Discard vanilla bean. Scoop vanilla ice cream into bowls. Spoon blood orange compote over and serve.

GRAPEFRUIT, GINGER, AND STAR ANISE COMPOTE

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup water, sugar, ginger, and star anise to boil in medium saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until mixture begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir in grapefruit peel. Reduce heat to low and simmer syrup 30 minutes.
• Place all grapefruit sections in large bowl. Using slotted spoon, remove ginger from syrup and discard. Pour hot syrup with star anise over grapefruit; let stand at room temperature 1 hour, stirring occasionally. (Can be made 4 hours ahead; cover and chill.) Divide fruit and syrup among 6 small bowls; discard star anise. Serve compote chilled or at room temperature.
• *Brown star-shaped seedpods, sold at Asian markets, specialty foods stores, and in the spice section of some supermarkets.

BLOOD ORANGE COMPOTE

Steps:

• Squeeze the juice from two oranges, strain and set aside. Remove the peel and pith from the remaining oranges. The easiest way to do this is to cut away both ends of the fruit so that it sits flat on your work surface, then using a chef's knife, utility knife or a paring knife, cut the skin and pith completely away from the fruit, following the natural curve of the fruit from top to bottom. Once peeled, remove the sections from between the membranes, holding the fruit over a bowl to catch the juice and slicing next to the connective membranes on one side of each citrus segment. Set the sections aside while you make the blood orange caramel syrup.
• Place the sugar in a medium saucepan and carefully add the water and agave nectar. With a wet pastry brush, brush down the sides of the pan. Look closely and make sure there are no stray sugar granules adhering to the pan. Brush any that you detect down into the wet sugar using the pastry brush. Turn the heat on medium and bring to a boil, watching again to make sure there are no loose sugar crystals on the sides of the pan and brushing down if necessary. Cook until the caramel is golden to amber. Swirl the pan if necessary, but do not stir, to distribute the syrup, which may be hotter and darker in one area than in another. There should be many bubbles breaking on the surface. As soon as the caramel reaches a golden color (about 325 degrees), remove from the heat. Wait until the bubbles subside, then carefully add the orange juice, being very careful to stand back, as it will bubble up. Stir the mixture with a whisk. The caramel will probably seize on the whisk (it helps to heat the whisk in hot water first). Don't worry about that, just stir and return to the heat. The caramel is very hot so resist the temptation to taste it. Heat through, whisking, until all of the seized caramel has melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the Cointreau or Triple Sec (or other orange liqueur), vanilla, and cinnamon. Allow to cool, then pour over the oranges. Serve at room temperature or chilled.