Cooking with Apples

Asiina

So my friends and I are doing an Iron Chef potluck style party and the theme ingredient is apples. I have a week to prepare this dish, and I'll be scouring the internet, but I was wondering if anyone had any fantastic apple recipes?

Making apple crisp or apple pie is easy, so I'm looking to make something a little more creative. Also I don't really like baking as much as cooking, so something that has a little leeway in the recipe would be best.

Any ideas?

BobCesca

Curried Apple and Parsnip soup is kinda awesome.

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp mild curry powder
750g parsnips, peeled and chopped
600ml veg stock
3 apples grated (gala are good)
170ml single cream

1. Heat oil in a large pan and cook the onions with a pinch of salt until soft.
2. Add the cumin and curry powder and cook for a minute.
3. Stir in the parsnips, pour over the stock and 350ml boiling water and bring to the boil.
4. Simmer for ~15 minutes until the parsnips are soft.
5. Remove from the heat and add the grated apple.
6. Blend in a food processor or similar until smooth.
7. When ready to serve, reheat and stir through cream.

admanb

If you like pork, apple is a common combination with that. Hitting up epicurious with apple+pork gives a lot of tasty-sounding options.

TychoCelchuuu

Another soup option:

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/butternut_squash_apple_soup/

Entriech

I've been making caramel apple pork chops for about a year now based on this allrecipes recipe. They're goddamn delicious. Doubly so if you can get your hands on some smoked chops.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Caramel-Apple-Pork-Chops/Detail.aspx

I've also been eyeing up this apple cinnamon breakfast strata, as it looks delicious, and by and large Cheap, Healthy, Good nails recipes.
http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2011/01/apple-cinnamon-breakfast-strata-plus.html

For a different take, you could do something like this Brunch Clafouti, and sub in some cooked apples for the fruit.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/01/brunch-clafouti-recipe.html

FirstComradeStalin

Hard to beat a slow-roasted duck, especially if you have a good amount of prep time beforehand.

ahava

I am seriously in love with this recipe. You can even add some apples to it. I also like to add sliced mushrooms

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chicken-with-Apple-Cream-Sauce

it sounds strange at first, but oh so good. and I serve it over egg noodles as opposed to rice.

Gandalf_the_Crazed

A stir-fry is easy, but also highly customizable. Here's what I do with apples:

Pork cubes
Granny Smith Apple chunks + cinnamon
Pecan halves/crumbles
Pineapple chunks

Add the apples in about 3/4 of the way through...just long enough for them to get warm and everything, but not long enough that they start to get mushy. Make sure you pour the pineapple juice in too, just let it cook down...keeps everything moist while it cooks. I also use that Country Crock honey-flavored spread to prepare the wok for this dish, but I'm not sure if it actually makes that much of a taste difference, or if that's just in my head.

EggyToast

If you dice apples and simmer them with some port and reduce it to a syrup, you end up with an apple & port sauce that you can pretty much add to anything and it will be delicious. Don't be afraid to go savory with apple, and remember the spices that typically go with apple desserts (like cinnamon) to influence what you can mix with apple. If a dish would benefit from similar spices, using the spice can be a great way to transition into the apple flavors without it being too abrupt.