Applesauce with Mulling Spices

iing ttin GerrG

This is not a conventional applesauce. However, this applesauce made with mulling spices, specifically allspice, cinnamon and star anise.  Okay the last one is just a Spice Chronicles thing. Gett In fact, I tried to make this for some latkes. It was all gone. It is that kind of good! I sometimes add in just a little bit of red pepper flakes.  The spices are mostly fragrant and used whole. They impact a very gentle and nuanced flavor to the applesauce. Since they are pulled out before serving, people often just wonder about the flavor. This sauce can enhance either a sweet or savory.

Apples Used for this Applesauce

I use mostly Granny Smith apples and use brown sugar for sweetening. I have also tried using coconut sugar, if you want a natural sweetener.

Cooking the Applesauce

I add very little water to this recipe. It is all about the apples, with the sugar and spice to make things nicer. Cooked until the apples are soft. Not over cooked. This is naturally a matter of personal preference. In fact, I use the back of a wooden spoon to mash the apples to make my applesauce. It is a little rustic that way.  In some ways, the brown sugar, the apples, and the spices are like a mashed serving of Hudson Valley fall in a bowl. As the sauce simmers, the kitchen smells warm and fragrant.

The red pepper flakes might be just a little controversial. But they do for the applesauce, what salt does for caramel. Creates that magical contrast of flavors, that challenges the palate.

Since the spices in this do get discarded, it might be a good idea to use a spice sack for this recipe. I am used fishing and digging out spices, but just saying it is a good idea for the uninitiated.

 

PrintApplesauce with Dates and Star Anise

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Makes about 3/4 cup

A lightly spiced apple sauce that works very well with crackers and cheese.

Ingredients

4 Granny Smith Apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup water or apple cider
1/2 tablespoon (about 20 all spice berries)
1 piece cinnamon (about 2 inches) broken into smaller pieces)
1- or 2-star anise
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

Peel and core the apples and cut them into smaller pieces.
Place the apples in a heavy bottomed pan with the brown sugar, water or apple cider and the whole spices. It would be a good idea to use a spice bag for the spices.
Cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. The apples should have softened and mostly broken down.
Remove from the heat, discard the whole spices. Mash the apples into a sauce like consistency. The texture of this applesauce is thick and a little rustic.
Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes if using and enjoy!3.1https://spicechronicles.com/applesauce-mulling-spices/

 

The post Applesauce with Mulling Spices appeared first on Spice Chronicles.