It’s beginning to be berry season! One of the greatest joys of the whole summer. Strawberries have begun popping up at my local farmers market and I’ve noticed the price of blueberries and raspberries dropping in my grocery store.

To celebrate the berries’ arrival, here’s a really easy recipe for a simple berry compote. It takes almost no time at all, and it’s delicious. You can serve it on top of yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, or simply eat it right out of the bowl for a guilt-free dessert! Best of all, there’s no refined sugar in here, just a little bit of agave nectar. And you can omit the butter if you’d like and simply replace it with water. It’s berry good. (Sorry, couldn’t resist…)

Easy Berry Compote

– 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or 2 tablespoons water)
– 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
– 3 cups mixed berries such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries
– agave nectar to taste

Preparation

Melt butter in a skillet over moderate heat. (Or if using water instead of butter, simply place the water, berries, and lemon juice in the pot all together). Add berries and cook, tossing gently (try to keep most of them from breaking up), until berries are warm and juices begin to be released, 2 to 3 minutes. Add agave nectar to your desired level of sweetness.

Serve warm or at room temperature.