Apple
Apple is a versatile, crisp pome fruit with a fresh sweet flavour and a recognisable aroma. It is delicious eaten out of hand, but in the kitchen the apple is just as popular: raw in salads, stewed into purée, or baked in tarts and other desserts.
Latin name: Malus domestica
Origin: Central Asia
Plant family: Rosaceae (rose family)
Life span: perennial
Description
The apple tree has been one of the most important fruit trees in Europe for centuries. Modern varieties differ greatly in colour, shape and flavour: from fresh-tart and firm to aromatically sweet and soft. Botanically, the apple is a pome fruit, with the core at its centre and a juicy, firm flesh around it. The skin may be thin or slightly thicker and ranges from green and yellow to deep red. Thanks to this wide variation, there is an apple variety suited to almost every use.
In the kitchen
Apple has a bright, fresh flavour that combines well with both sweet and savoury ingredients. Tart varieties are excellent in salads and with dishes that are rich or salty, such as pork, sausage, pâté or cheese. Sweeter varieties work beautifully in pastries, compote and desserts, especially with cinnamon, vanilla, raisins or nuts. Apple can also be made into purée, chutney or sauce, for example with poultry or winter dishes. Raw, apple brings crunch and juiciness; when heated, it becomes softer and rounder in flavour, sometimes with a lightly caramel-like note.
Storage & preparation
Apples are best stored in a cool, dry place so that they keep their firmness and aroma for longer. Check them regularly and remove any with bruised spots, as one bad apple can cause the rest to spoil more quickly. Wash apples just before use. Whether or not to peel them depends on the dish and the variety: in salads and snacks, the skin can add extra bite, while for purée or a smooth filling you will often peel them. A little lemon or lime juice helps prevent browning. For baking and stewing, it is useful to choose a variety that holds its shape or, on the contrary, breaks down easily, depending on the result you want.
