An Apple a Day, and Chicken of Course!

Apples are one of the most widely available and consumed fruits. While they come into season in Canada in early fall, they have become available year round at most grocery stores.

Freshly baked apple pie is possibly the most emblematic apple dish that comes to mind during apple season. And the other iconic dishes are just as sweet – apple jam, apple cider, applesauce, apple turnovers. Apples are most widely incorporated into dessert recipes, but they make a welcome addition to savoury dishes as well. They add a wonderful freshness, crisp texture and sweet/tart flavour. They happen to pair wonderfully with chicken, whose mild flavour and hearty texture act as the perfect canvas for a sweet and savoury contrast. Apples are also rich in vitamin C and fibre, giving your recipe an additional nutritional boost.

With so many varieties of apple to choose from, how do you know which is the right one for your recipe? Here are a few things to consider.

Flavour. Some apples run sweet, like Honey Crisp or Ambrosia, while some are tart, like Granny Smith. Choose a flavour that compliments the dish you’re making. You can use multiple varieties in the same recipe to get the right balance.

Texture. It is also important to choose an apple that will hold up well against the heat of cooking. If you want your apples to maintain their shape and texture when done, choose a denser apple like Cortland or Gala. If your desired result is more of an apple purée, then McIntosh or Red Delicious are good choices.

Preparation. Be sure to wash your apples well with warm water and remove the core and seeds, which have an unpalatable flavour and texture. Cut your apples into appropriately sized pieces. Thinly sliced pieces will likely dissolve when cooked for long periods of time. Cut larger chunks if you want them to retain their shape.

With these points in mind, this apple season – or next time you’re at the grocery store – grab a few of your favourite cooking apples and try out one of these delicious chicken and apple recipes.