Active Time

　　20 min

　　Total Time

　　40 min

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 2 cups

　　1/2 cup water

　　1/3 cup sugar

　　1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　3 or 4 whole allspice

　　3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries (1 1/2 pints)

　　

Step 1

Bring water, sugar, juice, and allspice to a boil in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Cool syrup to lukewarm and discard allspice.

　　

Step 2

Purée 2 cups blackberries with all of syrup in a blender. Force purée through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove seeds. Stir remaining cup berries into sauce.

　　Cooks' note:

　　• Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 4 days. Stir in whole berries just before serving.