The Quince jelly: a very sweet caloric bomb. The cotognate is a sweet simple, which is made with quinces in Spain and generally in southern Italy. The recipe of the cotognata has only three basic ingredients, Quince, lemon and sugar, but you can spice up at will, for example with a little’ cinnamon or vanilla. And if you love quince read my article QUINCE: PROPERTY’ AND SIX RECIPES TO TRY.
The whole procedure can look, literally step by step, also in VIDEO RECIPE of the cut-off on my You Tube Channel. The quince has varying degrees of maturation, for example, in the Aeolian Islands it eats hard, almost dry, chewy, sweet and concentrated. I like the quince tough, but not hard. Useless, practically, give you the doses: the only rule is that sugar should be in equal amount of fruits. I made two pounds of quinces and I got 12 small cookie cutters. I anticipate that the only effort, not just, you wipe the quinces, especially from hard parts that enclose the seeds. For the rest, make the quince is easy.
If you prefer a different consistency, creamier, then the recipe for you is that of QUINCE APPLE JAM, with the same ingredients, less sugar and a similar but shorter process.
The quince lasts a long time: I like soda but fresh, eaten the day after preparation, but more is to air and dry and, becoming dehydrated, it becomes sweet and concentrated. With each passing week, It hardens almost like candy and you just have to suck. A delight. If you want to try some other recipe with quinces, I suggest SPICY SOUP OF QUINCES or the TART WITH QUINCES AND CHOCOLATE. And of course have a look at all my SICILIAN RECIPES. Have a good day.
23 comments
Hi Ada,
I would like to rediscover these flavors that take me back in time when my mother and my aunt prepared it and put it in the terracotta molds that I jealously guard.
I have seen several recipes and some suggest not to peel apples (because that's where pectin is found) and even do not add sugar… only quince.
How come? I don't remember if my mom and aunt put sugar :-(
Thanks.
Hello Lidia, I have always made this recipe, it was my grandmother's. Pectin is contained in both the peel and the fruit, but the peel is annoying in terms of texture. As for sugar, I think it's impossible not to put it: first of all the quince is agra to acidula. Secondly, but most importantly, sugar is a preservative: if you don't put it, whatever you do with quinces will go bad in a matter of days… Obviously I can't answer for other people's recipes, but at the chemical level it is practically impossible that quince can resist without sugar. You will also find recipes that blend quinces: Avoid, the quince you remember is like mine, Grainy, not as smooth as a jelly. A warm greeting, ADA
Thanks Ada for the answer.
I'll try your recipe and let you know.
Greetings to you too
Lidia
Appearance news. Today I have turned out mine and I will dry it for a couple of weeks in the air. A warm greeting, ADA
Hello,
Even to me this recipe takes me back in time, but now I want to achieve it with less sugar since the age is different…..
I can achieve it with 1/3 sugar and 1/2 ? The result will be decent?
Thanks.
hello Catherine, the kind that you see in the most recent photos are made with 1,5 kg of quince and 1,2 sugar. Do not I should go down well, because less sugar is less than the quince will be preserved
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Hi! But I know a little something …where I can leave to dry the molds seen that this year the sun is not so present!? In a room in the dark!? It could go well?
Hello!!place it on a wire rack, Also on the oven rack, and let the air, in a ventilated place. Rivoltala occasionally, it will dry slowly
In my part of the process is a little different in the sense that boil the whole apples and then, After cooked, remove the peel and seeds before passing it. Is’ always a great difficulty, but the results make it all worthwhile!
Hi Franca! Is the procedure that I describe is slightly different: We do already peeled because, Although it is a trouble honestly Peel and remove the inside because it's all very hard, then the brewing process lasts very little. That being said I don't think it changes anything, I still do it every year because it really brings me back to childhood… I embrace you strong, ADA
Hi Ada I recently discovered your website and i congratulate you, I wanted to try making Quince jelly. Since I was treated to the Quince, I wanted you to ask for help in this: in the photo that you put the molds of Quince are polished while mine are rough where I can have it wrong? I thank you in advance Hello
Hi Layla thanks! I'm glad you like my blog. In that sense the Quince remained unfinished? It means that you are a little’ attached to containers? I use non-stick ones, Although the tradition would want you to use those in terracotta. In any case, much depends on the degree of caramelization of sugar. Maybe you should cook a few more minutes. the result, though, is good? Let me know, ADA
Hi Ada the flavor is fabulous, However I want to redo thanks
Hi Ada I'm back here, stubborn as I am, I wanted to go again and I managed really well and good, Thank you Hello to the next recipe
Hi Laila! Brava, never give up!!! Maybe you cooked a little bit more? I'm glad you came right. See you soon, ADA
A bomb of goodness that appeals so much to my grandpa, pass the recipe to my mom so can do for Christmas.
Good Sunday
Even in Sicily is inevitable on our table at Christmas! A kiss Enrica!
Hi, tell me in the South this summer and sweet is not now, because if I look out the window and I see snowflakes as big as rose petals and home-heating is racing!!! I want to migrate to warm like swallows. Anyway this cake I've tasted packaged wrapped and I think there is no comparison with those homemade. Congratulations!!!
Hello! No, the Quince is not done in midsummer, do you in the season of Quince, from late September onwards. Has a color and a summer flavor (Please note that in September by us there is plenty of sunshine and so hot, and also by October) and many do it dry in the Sun until it hardens and the sugar crystallizes. But I envy you snowflakes… here in Rome the fa once every 3 years and I like it so much… Hello and thank you, ADA
ADA, What colors have these gems! That sunny days that are seen only in the South! I've never tasted this cake, but I have no doubt … must be excellent!
Hello Michael! To the South is widespread and you're right, the color is gorgeous. This is cool, but after a while’ of days the color intensifies to become almost reddish and the texture gets harder, chewy… at that point it melts in your mouth like candy. Have a nice weekend!
My mom sometimes does just for sweets, making the Quince in toccetti and passing them from granulated sugar!!
We in Sicily we do so when is dried: cut into squares and roll in sugar. A delight! Best regards Valeria