Apple-sook!? Your New Favorite Dessert
One of the problems that many people face in the winter time is the cravings for more sweet treats and dessert foods. I personally don't crave dessert quite as much as others do, but there is still something about that kind of food that fits into the winter mentality. The problem is trying to find healthy alternatives to fill that void. Thats where "Apple-sook" comes in.
The name apple-suk is entirely made up by me and refers to the original Korean dessert Baesuk that I learned about while living in South Korea. "Bae" means pear, specifically asian pear, and I never actually learned what the "sook" part meant. The traditional dessert is made by stuffing Korean pear with some tasty fillings, steaming it, and then enjoying a wonderfuly unique dessert.
The problem is that I know it's difficult for many people to find good asian pears in the U.S. and it would definitely not fall under my prefered category of local eating. While I am still living in Korea I will enjoy the asian pear version as much as I can! However, the apple version is just as good in a different way. Hopefully you can find some good winter storage apples from local growers in fall. The toppings for the recipe might not be local, but it's tough when the recipe is origionally from South Korea.
I hope you give this recipe a try when that winter dessert craving hits you next! The recipe is for one person, one apple, and can be multiplied by the number of people you plan to enjoy it with. : )
Ingredients:
1 medium Apple
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
2 Dates, pitted and cut in half
*If you can find jujubees, Chinese dates, it tastes more like
the traditional recipe
Honey (just a drizzle since apples are already sweet!)
1tsp Fresh ginger, finely minced or grated
Optional:
Make it taste like fall by adding a few cloves and a dash of allspice
Special Supplies:
1 heat safe ramekin per apple
A method for steaming
If you don't have a steamer, you can use a pot and something heat-safe to elevate the ramekins above the water level
Step 1: Preparing the Apple
Wash the outside of the apple thoroughly
Turn the apple on it's side and cut the top of the apple of down approximately 1 inch thick
This will be your "cover" for steaming the apple *Don't get rid of it*
With a pearing knife and or a spoon, carve out most of the apple's core
Leave some at the bottom so you can stuff the apple
Step 2: Adding the Fillings
Take 1 tsp of the ground cinnamon and put it in the hole in the middle of the apple
Then add the haved dates and ginger
Drizzle a little honey on the fillings and then dust the top of the fillings and edges of the apple with the remaining 1 tsp of cinnamon
Place your apple top back on the apple and put it inside your heat safe ramekin
Step 3: Steaming the Apple
Get the water in your pot steaming on medium heat
Make sure you have enough water in the bottom of your pot that it won't boil dry!
Using hot pads, or oven mitts, put the ramekins in the steamer and steam for approximately 20 minutes or until the apples are soft and the skin is wrinkly
Make sure to have a trivet or hot pad ready to set the hot ramekin on to cool
Either let the ramekin cool slightly and eat or transfer into a bowl and enjoy
Make pour the juice back on if you transfer to a bowl
This Korean style dessert has become a staple for my wife and me. Hopefully it can satisfy your cold weather cravings as well as it does for us. Enjoy!
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