This Roasted Applesauce recipe I discovered last week when I was about to make applesauce to go with my latkes for a party I was hosting.
I had been cooking all day, and although I love my go to applesauce recipe, I was looking to avoid using the food mill, and started checking out some recipes online.
That is when I found this gem which comes from The Zuni Cafe Cookbook by Judy Rodgers. It is a no frills applesauce, absent the usual cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice, with just a bit of sugar added along with some salt.
The apples are dotted with butter and roasted in a hot oven creating a sauce that is pure apple with just a hint of that caramelized flavor.
A splash of apple cider vinegar (genius!) after smashing the apples a bit gives it just the kick it needs to perk up the flavor.
Here’s my new go to applesauce recipe…
Roasted Applesauce (The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, Judy Rodgers)
3 ½ to 4 pounds apples (Rodgers uses crisp eating apples, like Sierra Beauties, Braeburns, Pippins, Golden Delicious or Galas)
(I used a combination of Braeburn and Jonagold)
Pinch of salt
Up to 2 teaspoons sugar, as needed
About 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
A splash of apple cider vinegar, as needed
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Peel, core, and quarter the apples. Toss with a little salt, and unless they are very sweet, a bit of sugar to taste. If they are tart enough to make you squint, add the full measure of sugar. Spread in a shallow baking dish that crowds the apples in a single layer. Drape with slivers of butter, cover tightly with a lid or aluminum foil, and bake until the apples start to soften, 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your apples.
3. Uncover, raise the heat to 500 F, and return the pan to the oven. Leave the apples to dry out and color slightly, about 10 minutes.
4. When the tips of the apples have become golden and the fruit is tender, scrape them into a bowl and stir int a chunky “mash." Season with salt and sugar to taste, then consider a splash of apple cider vinegar to brighten the flavor. (Try a drop on a spoonful to see if you like it.)
