Walking into a kitchen filled with aromatics of Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cardamon while baking and bubbling in the oven is one of life's small pleasures. A healthy paleo alternative to apple pie. Sweetened with Medjool Dates.
Whole spices give our immune system a little boost . Nutmeg may reduce high blood pressure. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar, while Cardamon is helpful with inflammation
Season: Autumn/Winter
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serves 8 ~ 9 " Pie dish
3 organic apples, assorted, gored and skin left on.
1tbsp. cinnamon, 3 sticks ground in spice grinder, extra for dusting
1 tsp. nutmeg, whole, grated
1 tsp. cardamon. whole pods, smashed to a powder
1 stick grass fed organic butter, or 4 oz's coconut oil
1/2 lemon, juiced, and zest
1tsp. fresh ginger, grated
2 tsp. pure vanilla
6 medjool dates, softened in hot filtered water
1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
fresh herbs ( optional, see cooks note )
Preheat oven 350
Gore and chop apples into thick slices. In a large bowl squeeze fresh lemon juice over apples. Set aside.
Smash cinnamon sticks with a mortar and pestle, or you can use a rolling pin to smash down. Put into spice grinder and grind for a minute or two. Put cinnamon through a small stainer to remove any larger bits. You want to yield 1 tbs
With a zester, grind whole nutmeg. Lightly smash cardamon pods to release the cardamon. Grind with mortar and pestle until powdered. Set aside spices.
Take the softened dates and half of the liquid and pulse in a food processor, until combined. Add the date mixture to apples and lemon juice and mix with your hands.
Melt butter in small sauce pan. Pour melted butted into the pie dish and add all the spices, grated ginger and vanilla. stir to combine.
Lay all the apples with date mixture on top of the melted butter. Mix again with your hands to combine.
Place into preheated oven and bake for 20 -25 minutes. You want apples cooked through but firm.
Take apple pie out of the oven and top with chopped walnuts and a sprinkle of extra cinnamon. Bake for another 5 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve in small soup bowls.
Cooks note: It might seem a bit daunting grating cinnamon sticks. It is truly worth the effort. Whole spices are what make recipes go from good to WOW...
If you like you can sprinkle some fresh herbs such as majoram, rosemary or thyme on top.