An elegant alternative to applesauce
This recipe was written originally as a simple fall side dish. Rather than just any fall side dish, why not double (or triple) it and serve it as a Thanksgiving side dish? Cranberries don’t need to be the only fruit on the table!
Off to the original post. . .
It’s October, and the apples are simply amazing in New Hampshire. Sure, you can find apples in the produce department all year long, but there’s a huge difference between apples that were picked however long ago and shipped from wherever and apples that are from down the street and freshly picked. These local apples really need no cooking or additional ingredients.
However, I like to play with food, so why not use these delicious apples as the base of a new recipe? Of course, since they were at their peak, I wanted to be sure that they stayed at the front and center of this recipe. My thought was to create a side dish to accompany a pork tenderloin.
Earlier this week I wrote about the Homemade Applesauce that I often made for my son in his younger years. While it’s a delightful recipe, it doesn’t always appeal to all audiences. For some, applesauce can be a juvenile dish, which I don’t fully understand but I do appreciate. This recipe is my adult version of applesauce. Surprisingly, although it gives off airs of being more mature, it’s actually easier and quicker to make.
This recipe is all about less instead of more. The most important part of the less piece is time. Do not let the apples overcook; you want the cubes to be al dente not mushy. Another part of the less is the sugar. You want just a bit to highlight the sweetness of the apple and contrast the savory nature of the thyme.
These Thyme & Brown Sugar Apples are a perfect workweek side dish. From start to finish, you need only ten minutes. Serve them with a roast that’s spent the day in your crockpot or just a little bit of time in your Instapot, and you’ve got a stress-free dinner on its way!
- 2 apples, approx. 1 pound total
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Slice apple into quarters; remove core from each section.
- Cut each quarter into six evenly sized slices; then cut in half lengthwise.
- Place large nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
- Melt butter, and add apple slices.
- Saute for 4 minutes, tossing occasionally.
- Sprinkle with thyme and brown sugar, and cook for an additional minute.
