Creamy Homemade Quince Conserve

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Quinces

Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). While the oven is warming up, wash and scrub the quinces thoroughly to remove any fuzz and dirt. Place the whole quinces in a baking dish, and slide them into the preheated oven. Let them bake for about 2 hours. This slow baking process will soften the quinces, making them tender and easy to work with. You'll know they're ready when they yield easily to a touch.

2. Peel and Core Quinces

Once the quinces are baked, allow them to cool slightly. While they’re still warm, peel off their skins, then cut the quinces in half and remove the cores. Proceed to cut the flesh into smaller pieces.

3. Blend Quinces and Sugar

Place the cut quince pieces in a food processor along with the ¾ cup of sugar, and blend until you achieve a smooth mixture.

4. Cook Quince Mixture

Transfer the quince mixture into a wide nonstick saucepan. Cook it gently over medium heat, stirring continuously. This step will take about 30 minutes. As the mixture cooks, it will thicken and turn a beautiful pink color, thanks to the caramelization process. Keep stirring to prevent it from sticking to the pan and burning.

5. Cool and Serve

Once the paste is thick and has a lovely pink hue, pour it into a shallow dish and let it cool to room temperature. Then, move the dish to the refrigerator to let the conserve chill completely. When you're ready to serve, scoop the creamy quince conserve into a bowl. It pairs wonderfully with soft, fresh mild cheese like ricotta.