Simple Applesauce

By norsegal8

If you do not own a food mill or you prefer applesauce with a coarse texture, peel the apples before coring and cutting them, and, after cooking, mash them against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon or against the bottom of the pot with a potato masher. Applesauce made with out-of-season apples may be somewhat drier than sauce made with peak-season apples, so it’s likely that in step 2 of the recipe you will need to add more water to adjust the texture. If you double the recipe, the apples will need 10 to 15 minutes of extra cooking time.

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples (8 to 12 medium), preferably Jonagold, Pink Lady, Jonathan, or Macoun, unpeeled, cored, and cut into rough 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• pinch table salt
• 1 cup water
• Optional Flavorings
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - stir into finished sauce
• 3 inch cinnamon sticks (2) -- cook with apples and remove prior to pureeing
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon - stir into finished sauce
• 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen) - cook and puree with apples
• 4 whole cloves - cook with apples and remove prior to serving
• 1 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into three pieces and smashed - cook with apples and remove prior to pureeing
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest - cook and puree with apples
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice - stir into finished sauce
• 2/3 cup Red Hot candy - cook and puree with apples
• 2 pieces star anise (whole) - cook with apples and remove prior to serving

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

1. Toss apples, sugar, salt, and water in large, heavy-bottomed nonreactive Dutch oven. Cover pot and cook apples over medium-high heat until they begin to break down, 15 to 20 minutes, checking and stirring occasionally with wooden spoon to break up any large chunks.

2. Process cooked apples through food mill fitted with medium disk. Season with extra sugar or add water to adjust consistency as desired. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature, or chilled. (Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.)