Applesauce is a naturally sweet treat that is great served as a side dish with roasted meat and chicken, but it’s also delicious as a healthy snack. We tend to view applesauce as a child’s food and not something grown ups would enjoy, but homemade applesauce is something totally different – a creamy puree of apples and spices that has been slow-cooked to perfection.
Chai is a popular Indian flavor that many enjoy drinking as a tea, but Chai can enhance several different foods. Adding a mix of spices like cardamom, cinnamon and coriander to name a few, creates a warming taste that is delightfully balanced and very aromatic.
The slow-cooker is an easy place to prepare a big batch of homemade applesauce – just slice several cups of apples, add a little sugar along with the spices, and in a few hours fresh Chai Applesauce is ready. You can eat this warm or cold or use it as a topping on yogurt, oatmeal or ice cream. It also pairs nicely with savory foods like pork loin and fried chicken.
Ingredients
10-12 medium apples – washed, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup water
(Makes about 1 Quart)
To Prepare:
1. Add apples, sugar and dry spices to slow cooker. Pour in apple juice and water, toss mixture until combined.
2. Set slow-cooker to high and cook for 6 hours.
3. Remove lid and whisk applesauce together. Using a hand blender, puree applesauce until mostly smooth (I like to leave mine a little chunky for some texture). If you don’t have a hand blender, puree two-thirds of mixture in a blender and combine with remaining sauce.
4. Pour applesauce into a bowl or container and chill in refrigerator for several hours, or serve warm with something savory. Enjoy!
