Quince Inspiration: Ideas & Recipes

Quinces are squat, pear-shaped fruit of ‘Cydonia oblonga’. They are an ancient fruit that preceded apple cultivation. Quinces turn yellow when ripe with a soft white down. Although they are inedible raw, when cooked they turn pink and have a magical aroma.

Try cooking them with apples, slowly baking them with honey and cardamom. Add them to tagines or make into quince preserve. In Spain, quince preserve known as Membrillo is served as an accompaniment to Manchego cheese, and the South American version “Dulce de leche” is eaten as a jam.

Our favourite quince recipes:

• Baked Quince with Honey
• Quince Jelly
• Quince Ratafia [The Foodie Bugle Journal]
• Quince Cheese [River Cottage]
• Membrillo [Simply Recipes]
• Gloria Nicol's Quince & Apple Mincemeat [Guardian]