Apple Skin Cor(e)dial

APPLE SKIN & CORE

This is a really interesting cordial made entirely from the waste of apples. This utilizes the core or pit, as well as the skin. The apple skin contains a good chunk of the nutrients in an apple, so it’s a shame when people peel them and discard the best part. The peel has Vitamins C and A, fiber, antioxidants, and ursolic acid. Ursolic acid is an important ingredient for weight control and caloric monitoring.

apple-2122645_1920.jpg

Ingredients

12 apples, peels and core only

5 lemons, peels and seeds only

5 lemons, juice only

4 ½ cups of water

3 teaspoons of citric acid

800 g of granulated sugar

Recipe

  • Take apple cores and cut them in half and then into long strips. Take lemon peels and cut into thin/long strips.

  • Combine all fruit ingredients into a deep pot and bring to a boil.

  • Boil apples and lemons in medium hot water for 20 minutes.

  • After 20 minutes strain through jelly cloth or super bag.

  • Add the juice from the lemons (5).

  • Bring back to heat (low-medium) and bring to a boil.

  • Add the sugar in while whisking the mixture then add in the citric acid slowly while whisking.

Bottling

The bottles must be glass with metal lids. Fill the bottles with the completed cordial to within half an inch of the top. Make sure that the lids are not tightened. Put the bottles in a deep pan and fill with cold water to almost the top of the bottles. The bottles should stand on a trivet. Bring to the boil over the course of one hour and then simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the bottles at once and tighten the lids. This will allow for a lengthy shelf life. I have cordials that I made a year ago that still tastes great.

Tim Dam-Richards