Artificial Food Coloring Free Apple-Sage Compote
Warm, glossy, and fragrant with fresh herbs, this apple compote is the kind of simple recipe that makes everything it touches taste more special. Every ingredient here is exactly what it says it is — real butter, pure maple syrup, fresh sage, and honest-to-goodness apples — so there's no need to squint at a label hunting for dyes or synthetic additives. The maple syrup brings a deep, caramel-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with the brightness of apple cider vinegar stirred in at the end, keeping the flavor lively rather than cloying. Fresh sage adds an earthy, slightly savory note that elevates this well beyond a basic applesauce. A touch of ground ginger rounds everything out with gentle warmth. Spoon it over roasted pork, swirl it into oatmeal, or serve it alongside a cheese board — it's endlessly versatile and genuinely gorgeous without a drop of artificial color in sight.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 ½ lb apples (about 4 medium), peeled, cored, and cut into ½-inch dice
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
- 6 fresh sage leaves, thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foamy and just beginning to subside, about 1 minute.
- 2
Add the diced apples, maple syrup, water, ground ginger, and salt. Stir to coat, then cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and most of the liquid has reduced to a syrupy glaze, 14–16 minutes.
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