This dish has an exquisite appearance and enticing color that stimulates one’s appetite at first glance. When enjoying the caramelized apple, one can feel the crispy sugar coating combined with the softness of the apple. The sweet taste of the caramelized sugar and the tartness of the apple blend together harmoniously, creating a rich and multi-layered flavor that leaves a lasting impression. Not only is this dish delicious, but its unique preparation requires skill and experience, making it even more precious.
Ingredients for Braised Apple in Sweet Syrup
| Apple | two |
| Flour | 6g |
| Cornstarch | 6g |
| Baking powder | 5g |
| Edible oil | 200g |
| Sugar | 13g |
Steps:
1.Prepare two apples and peel them until they have a clean and appealing golden color. Cut the apples into quarters to ensure they cook evenly. Removing the seeds is necessary to avoid bitterness during cooking. Finally, dice the apples into evenly sized cubes using a rolling cut technique, which ensures even heat distribution and enhances the texture. Place the diced apples in a clean bowl and set aside.
2.Prepare a larger bowl and add one tablespoon of flour, one tablespoon of cornstarch (in a 1:1 ratio with the flour), and one tablespoon of baking powder. Baking powder helps to create a fluffy texture, although it is optional for homemade versions. Add one tablespoon of cooking oil and an appropriate amount of water. Stir the mixture in a left-to-right and right-to-left circular motion to avoid over-mixing, ensuring a thick and smooth batter. The consistency should be able to form ribbons when lifted.
3.Next, pour the diced apples into another clean bowl. Add one tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well, coating every piece of apple with the starch. Coating the apples with dry starch first helps to prevent the batter from detaching during frying. Now, it’s time to coat the apples with the batter. Pour the diced apples into the prepared batter and mix thoroughly by hand, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
4.Before frying the caramelized apples, prepare a plate and evenly coat the bottom with cooking oil. This prevents the apple pieces from sticking to the plate and avoids difficulties when serving.
5.With the ingredients ready, it’s time to fry the apples. Heat oil in a frying pan until it reaches a medium-high temperature or is slightly heated on low heat. Place the coated apple pieces into the pan one by one. After the oil cools, return the pan to the heat and continue frying the apples on low heat for about three minutes. The surface should become firm and golden in color before removing the apples from the pan.
6.Increase the oil temperature to medium-high. When the oil reaches about 70% heat, return the apple pieces to the pan for a second round of frying, lasting approximately 30 seconds. During the second frying, maintain a stable oil temperature and continuously move the apple pieces to ensure even heating. This step creates a crispier texture, a darker color, and a brighter appearance. After the second frying, quickly remove the apple pieces from the oil and drain the excess oil.
7.Now, it’s time to make the caramel syrup. Leave a small amount of oil in the pan and heat it. Add one tablespoon of granulated sugar and heat it slowly, continuously stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. As the temperature rises, bubbles will form. Wait until the large bubbles become small, and the syrup turns golden in color. Quickly add the fried apple pieces and stir to evenly coat them with the syrup.
8.Once the apple pieces are evenly coated with the syrup, remove them from the heat and transfer them to a plate greased with oil. When enjoying the dish, it is recommended to dip the caramelized apples in cold water before eating. This helps to cool them down and prevents burns while also enhancing the crispiness. Your delicious caramelized apple dish is now ready to be served.
Tips
1.Avoid frying the apples for too long, as they can become too soft and affect the texture.
2.Mastering the caramelization process is crucial. Use low to medium heat and slow, careful stirring until the sugar melts and turns golden before adding the apple pieces.
3.After coating the apple pieces with the batter, fry them quickly in hot oil to ensure the desired texture and color.
4.If the caramel becomes too thick, you can add a little water to help reduce its concentration.
Braised Apple in Sweet Syrup is not only a delicious dish but also a cultural heritage. In traditional Chinese culture, sweet desserts often symbolize happiness, sweetness, and auspiciousness. Therefore, Braised Apple is often seen at festive occasions like weddings and birthdays, representing blessings and joy.