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Food & Wine Recipe

Cinnamon-Black Pepper Strawberry Sauce

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  • ACTIVE: 20 MIN
  • TOTAL TIME: 35 MIN
  • SERVINGS: makes about 1 cup
  • •HEALTHY
  • •MAKE-AHEAD
  • •VEGETARIAN

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  1. 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
  2. 3 tablespoons water
  3. 1 cinnamon stick
  4. 5 black peppercorns, lightly crushed
  5. 2 whole cloves
  6. 1 1/2 cups dry red wine
  7. 1 pint strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced (2 cups)
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and cloves and bring to a boil, stirring just until the sugar is dissolved. Cook over moderately high heat, without stirring, until the liquid begins to turn brown at the edge, about 3 minutes. Cook, swirling the pan, until a medium amber-caramel forms, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Off the heat, carefully stir in the wine. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the caramel is dissolved and the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, about 8 minutes.
  2. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve into a medium skillet. Cook over moderately high heat until slightly syrupy and reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Add the strawberries and cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Serve the sauce warm or at room temperature.