Applesauce and Russian Kompot
With apple picking comes good intentions of making apple pie. This is soon to be followed by a fruit basket of withering, forgotten apples. No need to fret. Those apples are still in perfect shape for a different type of apple dessert or the perfect compliment to brisket and potato latkes. Applesauce! I was pleased to find that this is an incredibly easy treat to make and a two for one deal. After making this applesauce I was left with a lovely beverage, which is now a staple in our home, called "kompot."
When Boris first told me he was going to make kompot I was immensely impressed, thinking that he was going to make a jam. What he wound up serving me was a sweet fruit flavored beverage. Imagine my confusion. This is just one of the many Russian food lessons I have learned in the past few months. Kompot is a mildly sweet, fruity beverage made from fresh fruits. It is absolutely delicious served as a soothing warm beverage or as a refreshing cold drink. It is a fantastic alternative to the store bought juices which contain far more sugar than our bodies need.
Let me break it down for you. One 8oz serving of apple juice contains 26 grams of sugar! One 8oz serving of homemade Kompot contains only 5 grams. It also contains all of the antioxidants and nutrients that have seeped out from boiling the fruit! This is a drink that you can feel good about serving your family.
So the following is a two for one recipe, applesauce and kompot! I hope you enjoy.
Homemade Applesauce!
Ingredients:
- 10-12 apples, cored and sliced
- 14-16 cups of water
- 2 TBS of lemon juice
- 6 TBS of granulated sugar
- I added 1 plum to give the kompot a nice rosey hue
Yield: 20 (1/2 cup) servings of apple sauce/ 14 cups of kompot
Directions:
- Core the apples by using either an apple corer or slicing the core out as you slice the apple into 6-8 wedges.
- Place the apples, lemon juice, sugar and water in a large pot over high heat. Bring the water to a boil then reduce to a simmer on low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the apples are soft.
- Remove the apples from the liquid (kompot) using a slotted spoon. Place the apples in a strainer to remove any excess liquid.
- Place the apples and cinnamon in the blender and puree. This step may require working in batches depending on the size of the blender.
Nutrition Value:
Applesauce (1/2 cup serving)
- 60 Calories
- 0g protein
- 0g fat
- 15g carbohydrate
- 2g fiber
Kompot (8oz serving)
- 20 Calories
- 0g protein
- 0g fat
- 5g carbohydrate
- 0g fiber