Savoury Apple Sauce

I always used to love apple sauce with a roast dinner but these days I find it a bit boring when it’s apple and nothing else. Last night I was struggling to think of something to liven up some organic pork and invented a more interesting (IMHO) version that contains three of the best gut-friendly foods on the planet – four, if you count the prebiotic impact of extra virgin olive oil. It’s also incredibly simple and can be made in 10 minutes flat. This is a vegetable dish in it’s own right – not just a condiment.

Ingredients

• 1 leek, washed and finely sliced
• 1 large cooking apple
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• dash of sherry vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Gently sauté the finely sliced leek in the olive oil
2. When the leek has softened add the crushed or finely sliced garlic and gently cook for a minute or so
3. Roughly peel the apple, slice into small-ish chunks and add to the pan
4. Cover the pan and leave for a couple of minutes while the apple cooks down
5. Taste before adding a little sherry vinegar or lemon juice and some salt and pepper.
6. Finish cooking for a minute or so then serve hot.

Goes well with roast pork, duck or goose and also works with grilled mackerel. Would also fold into any sort of steamed cabbage to add flavour and interest.

Variations

You could add all sorts of different herbs and spices to partner different dishes: rosemary, thyme, oregano would work well, as would chilli or mustard seeds.