Spiced Fruit Salad

Description
A novel deviation from traditional Indian desserts. Serves: Four.

Ingredients

 * 225 gm tinned pineapple chunks
 * 225 gm tinned peach chunks
 * 225 gm tinned mango slices, cut into chunks
 * 225 gm tinned guava halves, cut into chunks
 * 1 cinnamon stick
 * 2 black cardamoms
 * 3 cloves 4 black peppercorns

Directions

 * 1) Drain all the fruits and reserve the syrup.
 * 2) Mix all the syrup together, reserve 280 ml and drain off the remainder.
 * 3) Put the syrup into a saucepan.
 * 4) Add the spices and bring to the boil.
 * 5) Cover the pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
 * 6) Uncover and reduce the syrup to half its original volume by boiling for about five minutes.
 * 7) Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool.
 * 8) Keep the pan covered until the syrup is cool (in an open pan some of the flavour will be lost).
 * 9) Reserve a few pieces of peach and guava and all the mangoes.
 * 10) Arrange the remaining fruits in a serving bowl.
 * 11) Arrange the mangoes on top, then put in the reserved peach and guava.
 * 12) Strain the spiced syrup and pour over the fruits.
 * 13) Cover with cling film and chill.
 * 14) For a variation, use fresh ripe pear instead of tinned mango.
 * 15) Can also add one tbsp brandy to the syrup.