Did you know most of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in apples are actually in the peel? To get the most nutrition out of them, leave the peels on for this simple, stovetop recipe. Once blended, the cooked peels virtually disappear. Sweet, soft apples such as McIntosh and Gala work best in this naturally sweet applesauce, and their red peels add a nice rosy color.
Homemade Apple Pear Sauce
Don’t have a ripe pear on hand? Not to worry!
Homemade Apple Pear Sauce
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
- 3 large apples ( about 1 ½ pounds), unpeeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 pear, unpeeled and cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½ cup 100% apple juice
- Juice of half a lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Place the apples, pears, apple juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a medium pot and stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat, cover, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and cook at a low boil, covered, until the apples are very tender, about 25 minutes. Stir occasionally. Let cool about 20 minutes.
- Place the cooked fruit in a blender and blend until smooth and the peels are incorporated. (If you don’t have a blender and plan to mash the fruit with a fork or potato masher, you may want to slice off the peels first before cooking for a nice, smooth texture.)
Nutrition Information per Serving (½ cup): 140 calories, 0g fat, 5mg sodium, 36mg carbohydrate, 6g fiber, 1g protein, 20% vitamin C
