Xanthan Gum Free Apple & Onion Compote

Total time35 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time25 min

Sweet, savory, and deeply comforting, this apple and onion compote is the kind of condiment that makes everything it touches taste more interesting. Slow-cooked butter-softened onions meet tender chunks of apple, a splash of apple cider vinegar, and a drizzle of maple syrup for a balance of sweet, tangy, and rich that feels genuinely sophisticated. Fresh thyme sprigs steep right into the mix as it simmers, adding an herby, aromatic note that ties the whole thing together beautifully. Many store-bought compotes and chutneys sneak in thickeners and stabilizers you'd rather avoid, but this one gets its gorgeous, spoonable texture entirely from the natural breakdown of the apples themselves — no additives needed. The final uncovered simmer is the secret move, letting any extra liquid cook off until the compote is thick enough to mound on a spoon. Every single ingredient here is clean and straightforward, which makes this as easy to trust as it is to make. Spoon it over roasted pork, pile it onto a cheese board, or tuck it alongside a simple weeknight chicken — it earns its place at the table every single time.

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Ingredients

6 servings

1 tbsp unsalted butter
Land O Lakes Whipped Butter Salted - 8 Oz Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter Sticks Kerrygold Butter Pure Irish Unsalted - 8 Oz Kerrygold Pure Irish Unsalted Butter Vital Farms Pasture Raised Sea Salted Alfresco Butter - 8 Oz
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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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