Serves4
- Active time:10 min
- Start to finish:15 min
May 2001
When buying fresh apricots, look for fruit that is plump, fragrant, and gives a little when squeezed. Poaching time depends on the ripeness of the fruit.
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1
vanilla bean, halved lengthwise
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3
cups
water
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2
cups
sugar
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5
(3- by 3/4-inch) strips fresh lemon zest
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2
large sprigs fresh thyme
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10
fresh apricots, halved and pitted (1 3/4 lb)
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Accompaniment:
crème fraîche
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Scrape seeds from vanilla bean with tip of a sharp knife into a 2-quart saucepan and add pod, water, sugar, zest, and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then add apricots and simmer, stirring once or twice, until tender, 2 to 6 minutes (depending on ripeness).
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Spoon syrup over warm apricots in bowls and top with dollops of crème fraîche.