MSG Free Apple & Onion Compote
Sweet, jammy, and deeply savory all at once, this apple and onion compote is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste more interesting. Slowly cooked butter-softened onions form a golden, silky base, while chunks of apple melt into the mix with help from maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and fresh thyme. The result is a thick, spoonable compote that hits every note — sweet, tangy, herby, and rich — without a single processed shortcut. For anyone avoiding monosodium glutamate, this recipe is a natural fit: every ingredient is whole and straightforward, with no seasoning packets, bouillon, or pre-made sauces that so often sneak it in. The apple cider vinegar adds brightness that keeps the sweetness in check, and the thyme brings an earthy depth that makes the whole thing feel far more complex than the ingredient list suggests. Pile it onto roasted pork, spoon it over sharp cheddar on a cracker, or serve it alongside a simple weeknight chicken — it's endlessly versatile and genuinely hard to stop eating.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 3 medium apples (about 1 ¼ lb), peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch pieces
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp water
Instructions
- 1
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until foamy. Add the onion and salt, stirring to coat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent with golden edges, about 10–12 minutes.
- 2
Add the apple pieces, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, thyme sprigs, and water. Stir to combine, then cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring every few minutes, until the apples are completely tender and beginning to break down, about 12–15 minutes.
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