Easy and healthy recipe for making Spiced Apple Cider with Indian spices and condiments for a different take on the Fall classic.
Warm cozy nights hibernating under a blanket on the couch, sipping something warm and soothing. Apart from Halloween festivities and excitement, I love this part of Fall the most.
Talking about warm and soothing, I never have been a coffee drinker. Given a choice, I would always pick tea. Any kind of tea, be it a green tea or a floral or fruit tea would appeal to me. I love that luxurious feel of sipping and smelling something floral, fancy yet with that refreshing goodness.
An Apple a Day? Not Quite.
Growing up in a tropical place, Apples were a foreign fruit. They were available in plenty but weren’t local. Mangoes were our besties, and summer wouldn’t go by without at least a few hundreds bites into that luscious juicy flesh. Apples, although crisp and juicy, somehow wouldn’t compare to the fleshiness of mangoes. I guess that I am sounding very biased, this wasn’t exactly my intention when I started writing.
Apple juice was something I enjoyed though, especially on trips to train stations with my dad, to pick somebody up. Chilled apple juice at Indian railway stations is still a frequent sight.
My ride with apple juice was taking a turn for the better when I first sipped its healthier counterpart, enter spiced Apple cider! The term “Apple Cider” would still be alien to many, I had to do a quick search when I first tasted it to understand the difference. For those who want to know, here is the difference.
Warm mulled cider has been something I look forward to, at the onset of cold weather. It oozes comfort and nourishment, especially as a treat for the frigid body, pushing out warmth to the extremities and making you feel relaxed and cozy.
The Indian Version of Spiced Apple Cider
This version of apple cider is made with spices like peppercorn, cinnamon, and cloves, widely used in south Indian cooking. The addition of powdered jaggery gives it a light sweetness and a rich caramel color.
Topping it with some healthy fat ghee at the end makes this Apple cider more digestible. In Ayurveda, ghee in moderation is considered a digestive, aiding in the absorption and assimilation of nutrients. It is considered a catalytic agent that carries the medicinal properties of herbs into the tissues of the body. Read more here
At par with the taste is the sweet, inviting smell you get when you open the lid of the Instant Pot, instantly dosing you with those cozy fall vibes. Got apples still left from your apple picking expeditions? Use up all the apples by making this spiced apple cider. Enjoy this spiced apple cider warm or hot. This cider can be stored and used for up to 5 days.
Indian Spiced Apple Cider
This apple cider is flavored with different Indian spices and comes together in 20 minutes in the instant pot.
Ingredients
- 8-10 gala apples quartered ( you can use apples of your choice, I used Gala because it is a sweeter variety of apple )
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 star anise
- 5 cloves
- 3 cardamoms
- 10-12 peppercorns
- 6-7 strands of saffron (optional)
- 1/2 tbsp ghee
- Water to cover the apples
- 1/4 cup powdered palm jaggery (Add more at the end if you need more sweetness)
Instructions
- Wash the apples thoroughly. Chop the apples into quarters.
- Place the apples inside an Instant pot.
- Add in all the spices including the saffron.
- Also add in the palm jaggery.
- Add enough water to cover up the apples.
- Place the lid and cook on High pressure for 15 minutes. Allow for natural release.
- Whisk in the ghee now.
- Mash the mixture with a masher and sieve using a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth.
- Discard the solids. Store in an airtight container for use within 5- 6 days.
Notes
Notes: If the sweetness is not enough, add more palm jaggery.
There will be a slight kick from the pepper, if you don't prefer it, reduce the quantity to about 5-6 peppercorns or skip altogether.
Ghee lends a slightly greasy feel. This ingredient again is optional, feel free to skip it if this flavor, even though subtle, doesn't appeal to your palette.
Let us know in the comments below, if you tried this recipe.
If you enjoyed making this recipe, you will definitely love this fall recipe too!
Leave a Reply