Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!

Other berries: you can substitute the strawberries for other fresh berries (or frozen). But, keep in mind that compote recipes work best with more sturdy ones like strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries than with more delicate ones like raspberries.

Uses: this strawberry compote recipe is lighter than a regular topping or sauce. And one of those easy recipes that's great for breakfast food like waffles, pancakes, porridge or oatmeal (my favorite way), chia pudding, french toast, or granola and plain yogurt, and also for desserts like vanilla ice cream, pound cake slice with a dollop of whipped cream, or cheesecake.

Amount of sugar: it can be adjusted depending on how sweet you want the finished sauce by adding a few extra tablespoons of sugar. But a fruit compote uses less sugar than a jam or thick topping with cornstarch.

Other sweeteners: if you don't want to use sugar, you can add honey or maple syrup or some other type of sugar syrup you like to the saucepan with the strawberries and the water.

Flavorings: citrus can be used to flavor this homemade strawberry compote recipe. Add some orange zest or lemon zest at the beginning or a few drops of vanilla extract. Also, a tablespoon of orange liqueur can be added for a more sophisticated flavor.