Delicious Savory Apple Recipes for Apple Season
You know when you spend the day visiting an apple orchard and get super excited to bring home freshly picked apples? If you are anything like me I can easily pick my way to a half a peck of apples, because I can’t contain my excitement. Of course, I always use a bunch of them baking up things like pies and crisps, but I also find myself inspired to cook up savory apple recipes like the ones included in the round up below.
California Apples: First Picked, Fresh, and Full of Flavor
When most people think apples, the Pacific Northwest usually gets the spotlight. But here’s the thing: upper Northern California has an ideal climate for growing apples, especially a few standout varieties. California focuses on four main ones: Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Cripps Pink, all known for their balance of sweetness, crunch, and versatility.
Apples are grown in all 50 states, but only 36 states grow them commercially. California ranks as the 5th-largest apple producer in the country and the 2nd-largest exporter. Harvest season runs from July through October, with California apples being the first out of the field in July. Unlike apples that sit in long-term storage, California apples are picked and delivered fresh, resulting in more flavor and better texture.
Why Apples Work So Well In Savory Dishes
Apples do a few different things at once that most fruit cannot manage. California apples bring structure, acidity, and texture to a recipe, qualities that shine when apples are roasted, baked, or paired with savory ingredients.
Acidity is the big one, because fat needs a foil. Pork belly, bacon, brie, and 18-month cheddar all get better the second a slice of apple shows up. Then there is texture. Crisp apples keep their shape in a hot pan and stay crunchy in a dressed salad long after other fruit has gone limp.
Which Apples to Reach For When Going Savory
There are four apple varities that really hold up well to savory applications.
- Granny Smith: this workhorse is tart and dense enough to survive a braise and can cut through rich flavors like a pro.
- Pink Lady: browns slowly and really compliments dishes like slaws and cheeseboards.
- Fuji and Gala: both sweet apples that roast beautifully next to sausage or squash.
Tips For Cooking Apples On The Savory Side
Whenever your recipe allows, leave the peel intact. It holds color on the plate and will keep slices from collapsing under high heat.
The number one reason a savory apple dish winds up feeling a touch too sweet is under salting. Season the fruit for savory applications as aggresivley as you would an onion.
For anything raw, cut as late as you possibly can. A squeeze of lemon will buy you a bit more time, but not as much time as you are probably wanting if you still need to prep other components of the dish.
Here Are 12 Incredible Savory Apple Recipes You Should Try Soon
Baked Apple Hasselbacks with Fennel
If you grew up thinking apples were only meant for pie, donuts, or something sweet tucked into a lunchbox, this baked apple recipe is here to lovingly shake that belief. These savory apple hasselbacks from Casey Corn are proof that California apples can play just as well in the salty, herb-forward, dinner-party-worthy lane as they do in dessert.
Autumn California Avocado Toast
Mashed California avocado on olive oil toast, thin apple slices, pomegranate seeds, and a drizzle of honey.
Savory Apple Tart Bites
When fall settles over California and apple season hits its peak, the crisp, tart flavor of Granny Smith apples becomes a staple in both sweet and savory kitchens. These Savory California Apple Tart Bites transform this classic fruit into an elegant, crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s as simple to make as it is stunning to serve. With layers of buttery puff pastry, fragrant rosemary, and a touch of sweetness, they’re the perfect bite-sized celebration of California’s harvest season.
Winter Salad with Radicchio, Apple & Walnut
Winter salads are a beautiful thing, and this one is no exception. Bitter radicchio and endive are pared with sweet tart apples and oranges, toasty walnuts, and pungent Gorgonzola. Topped with a mustard maple vinaigrette, this apple walnut salad is a showpiece, rather than a side dish.
Shaved Apple Fennel Salad
When it comes to flavor, crunch, and color, this Shaved California Apple Fennel Salad with Cabbage checks all the boxes. This salad is a celebration of late summer and early fall produce, showcasing the delicate balance of sweet, tart, herbal, and citrusy. But more than that, this salad is a tribute to one of California’s crown jewels: the apple.
Apple Kimchi
This Apple Kimchi recipe from The Delicious Life is a naturally sweet and crisp alternative to the usual kimchi that makes use of Fall’s favorite harvest! With only a few ingredients and no need for long fermentation, Apple Kimchi super easy to make, and tastes so perfect deliciously customized to your preferences, you’ll never be able to stop eating it.
Apple Bacon + Toma Cheese Stacks
No cracker required here. Fuji rounds hold up when cut into rounds and topped with bacon, Toma cheese, basil, and a drizzle of hot honey.
Sausage Apple & Fall Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner
With thick cut slices of smoky sausage, sweet apples, and hearty veggies, this Sausage Apple & Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner from Baking the Goods bakes up quick and feeds a whole crew.
Apple, Onion, and Chicken Sausage Skewers
Whether you’re planning a summer cookout or just looking for a tasty and easy dinner, this recipe for skewers with chicken sausage, apple, and onions is sure to impress.
Kale-Apple Salad with Maple-Walnut Dressing
This recipe from Salt & Wind is a twist on the classic warm spinach salad but made with kale and apples that’s taken to the next level with a smoky, sweet dressing made with maple syrup, walnuts, and pancetta.
Grape, Apple, & Walnut Turkey Salad
You have to give this turkey salad with diced celery, apples, red grapes, walnuts, and lemony dressing a try. This recipe is easy, fast, and keeps for days too!
Fennel Roasted Pork Belly with Cider Apples
This fennel roasted pork belly with cider apples from Beyond Sweet & Savory will give you the best flavored fennel crispy crackling and tender meat paired with sweet cider apples. It’s the perfect holiday main to feed a crowd.
The Best Celery Slaw
This delicious celery slaw is an easy celery salad recipe that is packed full of bright flavors and lots of crunch. Earthy celery is paired with tart apples, toasted almonds and pistachios, funky blue cheese, and punchy parsley and it’s tossed with a lemony olive oil vinaigrette that sings. If you’re wondering, “What can I do with lots of celery?” or “What can I add to celery to make it taste better?” or “How do you make celery taste good and healthy?” look no further.
Calico Baked Beans with Sour Apples and Molasses
This calico baked beans recipe from Kates Best Recipes is hands-down the most delicious baked bean dish you’ll ever make with a mixture of beans, tart green apples, bacon, and molasses.
Jujube and Apple Chutney
Some ingredients quietly sit in the background for centuries before suddenly stepping into the spotlight. Jujube fruit is one of them. This chutney recipe is perfect on cheeseboards, in leafy green salads, and on grilled or roasted proteins like pork and chicken.
Bring On Apple Season
Apples have built their reputations on sweet treats and they are not giving that up anytime soon. Their savory side is a whole different ride entirely, but equally as delightful.
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