Poached Quinces with Black Rice Pudding

These glorious ruby coloured quinces are perfect for breakfast or dessert.  True, there’s a lot of sugar, but you will need it.  Make sure you start preparation the night before by soaking the rice.

Inroduction

About this Recipe

By: Sheridan Rogers.  
The glorious translucent red jelly can be used to spread on toast and scones or to serve with roast pork or turkey. 
The recipe and photo are from my Seasonal Entertaining book.

Ingredients

Serves 6

  • whole medium quinces 3, approx 300g each
  • water 750mls
  • sugar 500g
  • star anise 1 – 2
  • lemons 2, juice only

Black Rice Pudding

  • black rice 250g, washed and soaked overnight
  • water 1 Litre
  • palm sugar 125g (3.4 cup) shaved, or use soft brown sugar

Garnish

  • coconut cream
  • shredded coconut preferably fresh

Rub skins of quinces to remove soft down, then wash well.  Place in a pot packed fairly tightly.  Add the water, sugar and star anise.  Bring to the boil and simmer, uncovered, for 2 – 3 hours or until tender when pierced with a knife, rolling the quinces occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Add the juice of the lemons to cut excessive sweetness during the last stages of cooking and turn temperature down to prevent jelly burning. A simmer pad is very useful to prevent sticking and burning.  Serve cut into halves or quarters, drizzled with the pink syrup. Every part can be eaten, including the core.
For the Black Rice Pudding: Drain rice and wash well. Place in a large saucepan, add the water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 30 – 40 minutes or until rice is soft -then add the sugar and cook for another 20 – 25 minutes or until the rice is soft but still firm.  Serve warm with a little coconut cream poured over the top.  Garnish with shredded coconut (the fresher, the better).

Note: if you’d like to make quince jelly, add the juice of another lemon to the syrup and boil hard until it reaches setting point.