AUTUMN EATING

Quinces are in season, which makes it a great time to enjoy their taste and versatility. From sweet and savoury dishes to pies, jellies & jams, they make the perfect addition to many a meal.

Related to apples and pears, quinces are in season this month. They are a delicious fruit to add to crumbles and pies, or try spooning poached or stewed quince over your morning oatmeal. Quince is best served cooked; eaten raw, they have a sour and astringent flavour. When stewing quinces, the flavour can be enhanced with either cinnamon, vanilla or ginger. With their high pectin content, quinces are also perfect for making jams and pastes, but you will need a sharp paring knife to remove the peel and core for cooking. They can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes; also, a quince jelly is the perfect addition to a cheese platter. When choosing fruit, opt for ones that are yellow in colour as green shows they are not quite ripe yet. For irresistible recipe ideas such as Roasted Quince Cheesecake, Slow-Roasted Leg of Lamb with Roasted Quince, and Buttermilk Scones with Quince Jelly, go to mindfood.com/quince-7-ways