Apple sauce

Apple sauce or applesauce is a purée made of apples. It can be made with peeled or unpeeled apples and a variety of spices (commonly cinnamon and allspice). Flavorings or sweeteners such as sugar, honey, or tangelos are also commonly added. Apple sauce is a cheap and readily available food.^[1]

Preparation

Apple sauce is made by cooking down apples with water or apple cider (fresh apple juice) to the desired level. More acidic apples will render a finer purée; the highly acidic Bramley apple is popular for creating a very fine purée. Apples may or may not be peeled; sugar, spices, or lemon juice may be added for flavoring. Apple butter is similar to apple sauce, but has a high cider to apple ratio, of 8 liters to 1 kilogram.^[2]

Use and availability

Apple sauce used to be a food prepared for winter, since it keeps well.^[3] It is often an accompaniment to a main course. Swedes, for instance, usually eat apple sauce as a condiment for roast pork. In Germany it accompanies potato pancakes. In the Netherlands, children often eat it with their fries;^[4] "patat met appelmoes" is a traditional dish at children's birthday parties.^[5] It is also a popular accompaniment in the United States of America and is sometimes served as a dessert there as well. In France, it is viewed solely as a dessert and referred to as compote.

Commercial versions of apple sauce are readily available in supermarkets. It may be packaged in glass jars, tins or plastic tubs. It is also sold in serving-size small plastic cups.

Herbalism

Since it is high in pectin (more of which can be added during the cooking process), apple sauce is a homemade remedy to combat diarrhea.^[6]

References