Spiced Apple Treat: for Pancakes and More

Make this simple, perfectly spiced apple treat in a jiffy – for pancakes, waffles, hors d’oeuvres and more. Cooking time – just 2 minutes in the microwave – no kidding !

This one Red Delicious apple had been sitting around in my fruit bowl for a few days. I don’t especially like this variety of apples to begin with, and this one was not even glossy fresh and inviting. Should I just pitch it? But that doesn’t sit right with me either – I simply cannot bring myself to throw away perfectly edible food. So then, what to do with it?

spice is nice

I looked online for inspiration, but nothing really caught my eye. On a whim, I thought I would borrow a little from the East and the West. Spiced apples, with just a bit of spicy heat to make it interesting, and perhaps some butter to add its inimitable richness. I felt as if I was channeling my Mom; she would always come up with interesting ways to turn something that no one felt like eating into something utterly delicious.

I knew from past experience that I had to be careful not to overcook the apples – I really do not like mushy apples. After slicing the apples, I mixed the spices together, sprinkled them on, added a dab of butter and microwaved it on hi for a minute. When I took it out to check if the apples were cooked the way I wanted, the aroma that wafted through the kitchen…Mmmm, I was drooling already! The apples were not quite done, though; they needed to be cooked for another minute or so, then cooled a little before adding some lime juice.

Boy, was I ready to devour this delightful spiced apple treat!

serve it with what?

I thought about whipping up a batch of pancakes to go with the apples, but then decided I didn’t really want to wait that long. Crackers, maybe? I would just use them as a topping for crackers, along with a little cream cheese, and maybe some chopped walnuts. Then I remembered that I had some waffles in the freezer. Oh, even better!

I had such fun turning that sad-looking apple into a tasty treat that I could easily polish off all by myself. It was only one medium sized apple, after all, so hey … why not just snack on it by itself? Of course, now I will never look at a Red Delicious apple the same way again!

Special Diets

This spiced apple treat is vegetarian, gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free; to make it vegan, replace the butter with a a little coconut oil or other preferred butter substitute.

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Enjoy!

Spiced Apple Treat – for Pancakes and More

Peel and slice the apple. Mix together clove powder, cinnamon, brown sugar, ginger powder and red chilli powder; sprinkle the mixture on the apples and cook for 2 minutes in the microwave. When it cools, squeeze lime juice and add a pinch of salt. Mix gently and serve with pancakes, waffles and more.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

cooling time before adding lemon juice 2 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 2 people

Calories 73 kcal

Equipment

• Microwave oven preferred; if not available, can cook on stove-top, but it will take a little longer (see Recipe notes for details)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup Apple – medium-sized 1 medium, Red Delicious; peeled and sliced; other varieties of apples OK too – cooking times may vary from (2-5 min) – check after every min to ensure cooked , but firm texture
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon ground
• 1/8 tsp cloves ground
• 1/8 tsp dried red chilli powder
• 1/4 tsp dried ginger powder
• 2 tsp brown sugar if not available, jaggery/gud powder is OK too (Punjabi Shakkar)
• 1 tsp butter at room temp; to make it vegan, use vegan butter of your choice
• 1/16 tsp salt
• 2 tsp Fresh lemon/lime juice

Instructions

 

• Peel and slice the apple: cut in half lengthwise from the stem-side downwards. Cut into quarters, lengthwise; using a V-cut, remove the seeds and the tough parts around the seeds. Making a V-cut allows less of the apple being wasted. Slice each quarter thinly.
  
• Mix the spices together in a small bowl
  
• 
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• Top with butter; do NOT stir; microwave on hi for 2 min. If need be, cook for 1 more min; mix well and set aside to cool
  
• 
• Squeeze and measure lemon / lime juice, a dash of salt ( 1/16 tsp)
  
• If you like, top with toasted nuts – crushed peanuts / walnuts; serve with a bit of cream cheese on crackers
• Serve with pancakes and waffles, crackers with a bit of cream cheese, even on the side with hot Chapatis/Rotis, Tortillas, etc.

Notes

Stove-top cooking:

• Add 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan; bring it to a boil; turn heat off and add the sliced apples.
• Add the butter and sprinkle the spice mixture on top. Do NOT mix.
• Cover and cook, on low heat, about 8-10 min. Periodically remove the lid and slide a spatula under the bottom of the apples to ensure that it is not burning – do NOT stir!
• If needed, add about a tbsp of water around the sides, cover and continue to cook until apples become translucent and look cooked.
• Set aside, covered, for about 10-12 min.
• Remove lid, add lime juice, and salt and gently stir with a spoon. Ready to serve.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 75mgPotassium: 67mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 5mg

Keyword apple, cinnamon, cloves, spiced apple, waffle topping

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