Popular Kompot Recipe (Homemade Juice) from Russia and Eastern Europe
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Russian and Eastern European kompot is a rich, luscious, and refreshing fruit-based beverage that is easy to prepare and can be enjoyed on those beautiful warm summer evenings with friends, family, and guests.
Kompot Recipe
What is Kompot or Compot?
Popular throughout Europe, but in particular Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Russia, kompot is a refreshing, sweet beverage, made by boiling a wide range of fruits in water with sugar.
Homecooks and chefs make kompot with so many different fruits. Apricots, plums, cherries, and berries, including raspberries and strawberries, are some of just many variations. Berries will form the foundation of this Kompot recipe.
Simple to make, Kompot is flavorful, sweet, and a filling drink to enjoy on a warm summer’s day.
Recipe Ingredients
First, assemble your ingredients. You’ll need the following:
- Frozen or fresh berries (500g or 1.1 lb)
- Sugar (200g or 1 cup)
- Water (2 liters / 2 quart / 8.5 cups)
- Ice cubes (optional)
Kompot Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1 – First, add the water and sugar in a 5-liter pot (so that the kompot does not flow over the sides) and bring the water to a boil.
Step 2 – Add the berries, bring to a boil once more, and simmer it on low heat for 10 minutes. Finally, remove the pot from the stove and leave it to rest, and cool down for about 30 minutes.
Step 3 – You can enjoy the Kompot warm or cold with or without ice cubes!
Serving Suggestions
Most people serve the kompot without straining it. And then, after drinking it, they eat the remaining fruit with a spoon. At least, that’s what I did growing up.
You can add a slice of lemon on the rim of the glass for a pop of color, although that’s not really a traditional or typical thing to do.
In Eastern Europe and Russia, people will often make kompot in the summer when fruit is in season and then preserve it in 3-liter jars for the winter.
What kind of Fruit can you use in Kompot?
You can use just about any fruit found in Eastern Europe and Russia. My favorites are strawberries, apricots, or cherries. But you can also use any berries, peaches, plums, apples, or pears.
You can experiment with the flavors, and let us know when what your favorite is!
Kompot Recipe Card
Ingredients
- Frozen or fresh berries 500g or 1.1 lb
- Sugar 200g or 1 cup
- Water 2 liters / 2 quart / 8.5 cups
- Ice cubes optional
Instructions
- Add the water and sugar in a 5-liter pot (so that the Kompot does not flow over the sides) and bring the water to a boil.
- Next, add the berries, bring to a boil once more, and simmer everything on low heat for about 10 minutes. Finally, remove the pot from the stove and leave it to rest and cool down for about 30 minutes.
- You can enjoy the Kompot warm or cold (with or without ice cubes).
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Author: Doina Johnson is a content writer and strategist who loves to discover new and exciting foods and recipes while traveling. She replicates some of her favorite dishes in her home kitchen and is eager to explore native cuisine wherever she travels to.
Contributor: Anastasiya Tikhonova is a Russian copywriter and translator. When not translating texts, she writes on a number of topics relating to her home country, including Russian food and top destinations.
Tastes just like the kompot we get from the nice Ukrainian lady at the dumpling food truck. Thanks!