The spherical crabapples glow promisingly from the bushes and trees in autumn. The question then arises as to the culinary use of the edible fruits. Explore delicious recipes for making fruity jelly, aromatic potato-apple puree and invigorating fruit schnapps here.
How to process crabapple?
Ornamental apples can be made into refreshing jelly, aromatic potato-apple puree or invigorating fruit schnapps. Important steps include washing the fruit, juicing or cooking and then refining and preserving with sugar, spices and alcohol.
How to conjure up a refreshing jelly from crab apples
Some of the most magnificent crabapple varieties bear a tart, sour load of edible fruit in the fall. This includes the crowd favorite 'Evereste' or the classic 'Golden Hornet'. Fresh from the tree, however, the apples don't taste nearly as good as after being processed into jelly. The following recipe is making the rounds among hobby gardeners:
- Cut 1 kg of washed crabapples into cubes and sprinkle with cinnamon
- Pour 500 ml of cider over the wild apples, add 1 tablespoon of lemon balm and cook for 40 minutes
- Juice the fruit pulp through a cheesecloth overnight
The next day, add 1 kg of preserving sugar (1:1) to 1 liter of crabapple juice and bring everything to the boil. The hot jelly is filled into clean screw-top jars and can be kept for up to 1 year.
Recipe suggestion for mashed potatoes with crabapple
The fruity, sour taste of crabapple harmonizes wonderfully with the mild aroma of potatoes. Surprise your loved ones with this crabapple puree as a side dish to hearty meat dishes:
- Wash, divide and cook 30 cherry-sized crabapples for 10 minutes
- Put the pulp through a sieve to remove the seeds
- Simultaneously boil 8 medium-sized, peeled potatoes in s alted water
- Mash apple puree and potatoes with 200 ml to make a puree
At the end, season the crabapple puree with s alt, pepper and nutmeg and garnish with fried onions.
Fruit schnapps with a twist – How to make it with crabapple
Crabapple and schnapps are a duo that get along well. In just a few minutes, you can transform this year's harvest into a spirited drink that packs a punch. Put 800 g of fruit without stems in a carafe with 400 g of sugar, 1 packet of vanilla sugar and 3 cloves. Add 0.7 liters of fruit schnapps or vodka and let the mixture steep, tightly closed, for 6 weeks.
Tip
In contrast to its big brother, the cultivated apple, you cannot optimize the fruit size or harvest yield by pruning the crabapple. Therefore, prune the shrub or tree sparingly or not at all. The only thing that shouldn't be missed is annual thinning in late winter.
