Time for dessert Quince season has arrived

Quince dessert, a sweet with a beautiful red hue and gentle, scrumptious flavor

 There are many ways to prepare quince desserts, though one common aspect of the process of making them is that your hands will turn red.

Palace quince dessert

Preparation: Without peeling them, split the quinces down the middle and remove the seeds. Cut a thin slice off the undersides of the quinces to form a stable base. After placing them in a pan, add the sugar and the cloves to the quince. Add the water and the red food dye and then cook until the quinces begin to soften. Place the fruit on an oven tray, slice the apples and place them into the cooked quince. Add water to the oven tray that the quinces are sitting on, and cover the top with oven paper. Place in the oven to roast and cook further. Place the cooked quince on a serving dish and cover with pomegranate seeds, slices of kiwi and banana and other fruits as desired. Place a dollop of kaymak on top, according to taste.

Quince jam

Preparation: Peel, seed and grate the quinces. Place the water and the grated quince in a large pot. Add the quince seeds and set the pot on the heat. After it comes to a boil, add the sugar and the cloves. When the jam starts to thicken, add lemon juice and cook for 10 minutes or so before removing from the flame.

Quince compote

One of most famous Turkish desserts is this quince compote, whose color, taste and health benefits make it a true favorite.

Ingredients: Five medium-sized quinces, 10 cups of water, five cups of granulated sugar

Preparation: Place the sugar and water in a pot and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Peel and seed the quinces. Chop them into small cubes and place in a pot along with the water. Later, add the seeds of the quince to the water to give it the color that makes this compote famous.

Note: Use a pressure cooker to give this compote the red color that makes it famous. After removing the pressure cooker from the flame, let it sit for three to five hours without opening for best results.

Quinces are here -- now is the time to recall their benefits

Turkish medical experts have always praised quinces for their health benefits; here are just a few:

* They boost childhood growth and development

* They help prevent heart, lung, throat, stomach, eye and intestinal diseases

* They strengthen the nervous system and help protect the stomach and intestinal tract from germs, assisting with digestion

* They make the skin healthier, firmer and give it an added glow

* They speed up recovery from the flu, colds and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis

* Quinces and desserts such as quince compote are good for people suffering from diarrhea

* They increase the strength of the body and help protect you from fatigue

* They are perfect for bad breath

* They bring down levels of bad cholesterol

* Tea made by boiling quince flowers is consumed by nursing mothers to increase their milk production

Where to eat quince desserts

Here are some tips for those of you craving quince:

Hacı Abdullah Lokantası: On İstiklal Caddesi, this restaurant has served classic Ottoman cuisine for the past 121 years and features a delicious quince dessert.

Tel: 0 212 293 85 61

Saray Muhallebicisi: Saray Muhallebicisi is quite famous for its desserts, and of course, the quince dessert is delicious.

Tel: 0 212 521 08 88

Lades: This too lies on İstanbul's İstiklal Caddesi, across from Ağa Mosque It's a small spot, but a great stopping point for anyone wanting to taste a well-made quince dessert. Tel: 0 212 521 08 88

Kanaat Lokantası: This place has been in Üsküdar for 150 years and is known for its exquisitely produced quince dessert.

Tel: 0 216 333 37 91

Sütiş: With locations in Emirgan, Kalamış and Sarıyer, this place is another perfect spot to try out quince desserts when you get the chance. Tel: 0212 251 32 70