[CH] Spiced dried apples
Jonathan Smillie (jonathan.smillie@gmail.com)
Wed, 13 May 2009 22:15:50 -0400
So the other evening, I had some ripe (almost overripe) apples needing
used, and didn't feel like sitting down and eating my way through all of
them. I also had about a tablespoon of powdered Bolivian Rainbow chile
(from last year's haul at Open Fields) and a food dehydrator... I'm sure
you can see where this is going.
Chile-Infused Dried Apple Chips
3-4 tart to sweet-tart apples, peeled, core and cut into rounds
1 Tbsp. finely ground chile of choice
1/3 cup lemon juice (to prevent browning)
1. Pour the lemon juice into a bowl. After slicing, dip the apples in
the juice; leave them sitting in it if the bowl is big enough.
2. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over a large cutting board and sprinkle
evenly with chile powder.
3. Lay a single layer of apple slices on top, pressing down lightly.
Dust the tops with more chile powder.
4. Transfer the sliced apples to dehydrator trays, shaking off excess.
Repeat until all of the apple slices are used up.
5. Dehydrate, rotating trays every 4 hours, about 12 hours or until
apple slices are dry and crisp.
I sliced my apples very thinly and let them get very dry - a lot more so
than the slightly rubbery dried apples you get from the store. It just
makes them better though - you crunch into one of these and it falls
apart in your mouth in a burst of apple-and-chile flavor. I could (and I
have been today) snack on these all day. I think I know what I'm doing
with that next bag of apples...
Jonathan