Silky Smooth Pear-Apple Delight
Discover a delightful twist on traditional applesauce with our Silky Smooth Pear-Apple Delight. This nutritious blend of McIntosh apples and ripe pears creates a naturally sweet and flavorful sauce without any added sugars. The combination of fresh fruits, accented by a hint of lemon and warming spices, makes it perfect for babies and the whole family. This versatile sauce can be enjoyed warm or cold, and is an excellent accompaniment for pancakes, yogurt, or as a dessert topping. Easily prepare a batch and store it in the fridge or freeze it for convenient portions later. Your little ones will love the creamy texture and the subtle crunch from the pears, making it a favorite in your healthy cooking repertoire!
N/A
Servings
150
Calories
8
Ingredients
Ingredients
McIntosh apples
3 (peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped)
ripe pears
3 (peeled, cored, and quartered)
water
1/2 cup (none)
lemon juice
1 tablespoon (none)
frozen apple juice concentrate
1/4 cup (thawed)
ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon (none)
ground mace
1/8 teaspoon (none)
grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon (none)
Instructions
1
Begin by peeling, coring, and chopping the McIntosh apples into coarse pieces. Peel, core, and quarter the ripe pears.
2
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the chopped apples, pears, water, lemon juice, thawed apple juice concentrate, ground cinnamon, mace, and grated nutmeg.
3
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan.
4
Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The fruits should soften and meld into a chunky sauce.
5
Once cooked, remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.
6
Transfer the chunky sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Adjust seasoning, if desired.
7
Let the sauce cool completely before refrigerating. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze in ice cube trays for longer storage.
Nutrition Information
0g
Fat
40g
Carbs
0.5g
Protein
4g
Fiber
30g
Sugar
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Silky Smooth Pear-Apple Delight?
It is a nutritious, naturally sweet blend of McIntosh apples and ripe pears enhanced with lemon and warming spices, creating a smooth sauce similar to applesauce.
Is this recipe suitable for babies?
Yes, its smooth texture and natural ingredients make it an excellent choice for baby food and healthy cooking for the whole family.
Which apple variety is recommended for this recipe?
The recipe specifically calls for 3 McIntosh apples, known for their ability to break down easily into a smooth sauce.
How many pears are needed?
You will need 3 ripe pears that have been peeled, cored, and quartered.
Does this recipe contain added refined sugar?
No, this recipe is sugar-free and relies on the natural sweetness of the fruit and apple juice concentrate.
What spices are included in the pear-apple delight?
The sauce is flavored with 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon of ground mace, and 1/8 teaspoon of grated nutmeg.
How long does the fruit need to simmer?
The fruit mixture should simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes until it becomes soft and chunky.
How should I store the finished sauce?
Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Can this recipe be frozen?
Yes, for longer storage, you can freeze the sauce in ice cube trays for convenient portion sizes.
What are some serving suggestions?
This versatile sauce can be served as a side for pancakes, stirred into yogurt, or used as a healthy dessert topping.
Is the sauce served warm or cold?
It can be enjoyed both warm or cold depending on your preference.
How many calories are in one serving?
There are approximately 150 calories per serving of this fruit delight.
How much fiber does this recipe provide?
Each serving contains about 4 grams of dietary fiber.
Is there any fat in this recipe?
No, this recipe is fat-free, containing 0 grams of fat per serving.
What equipment is needed to achieve the silky texture?
You can use either a standard blender or an immersion blender to puree the cooked fruit until smooth.
Why is lemon juice added to the recipe?
Lemon juice adds a hint of brightness to the flavor and helps prevent the fruit from browning.
Can I leave the peels on the fruit?
The recipe recommends peeling both the apples and pears to achieve the intended silky smooth consistency.
What type of pan should I use?
A heavy-bottomed saucepan is recommended to ensure even heating and prevent scorching.
What is the carbohydrate content?
There are 40 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much protein is in the sauce?
The sauce contains approximately 0.5 grams of protein per serving.
Is this recipe considered vegan?
Yes, all ingredients used are plant-based, making it suitable for a vegan diet.
What provides the liquid base for cooking?
The fruit is cooked in a mixture of 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup thawed apple juice concentrate.
Can I make this recipe chunky instead of smooth?
Yes, if you prefer a chunky texture, you can stop after simmering and skip the blending step.
How many ingredients are required in total?
The recipe requires 8 total ingredients: apples, pears, water, lemon juice, apple juice concentrate, cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as it contains only fruit, water, juice, and spices.
What if I don't have ground mace?
If you don't have mace, you can substitute it with a bit more nutmeg or leave it out, though the flavor profile will change slightly.
Does the recipe require salt?
No, this recipe does not include any added sodium.
Is the apple juice concentrate used frozen or thawed?
The concentrate should be thawed before being added to the saucepan.
Can this be used as a smoothie base?
Yes, it is tagged as a smoothie-related recipe and can be added to blender drinks for extra flavor and nutrients.
What gives the sauce its subtle crunch?
Pears naturally contain stone cells (grit) that provide a very subtle texture even when pureed, which babies often enjoy.