Masala Chai Apple Crisp

A new twist on an old favorite. Try replacing your usual Apple Pie with this yummy low-fat (guilt-free) alternative!

Makes 6 servings

Chai spices are the perfect accompaniment to this quintessential American dessert.

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (preferably from green cardamom pods)

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons turbinado sugar

4 apples, cored and sliced thinly (2 Pink Ladies and 2 Granny Smiths, preferably)

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 cup apple jelly

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

11/2 cups dried oats

Method:

Combine all the spices and the sugar together. Place the apple slices in a mixing bowl and toss them with the spices and sugar. Allow this to sit for about 30 minutes.

At this point, the apples will have released some liquid. Drain the juice from the bottom of the mixing bowl into a small saucepan. Over medium heat, reduce the juice until it is about half the original volume. Mix this with the apple cider vinegar, apple jelly, and grated ginger.

Place the apples in a baking dish and spread the apple jelly mixture over them. Top with the dried oats. Bake this at 350 F for 20 minutes.

The Gourmet Touch: Toast each spice individually, whole, for about 1 minute over medium-low heat, then grind each spice into a powder.

Core Concepts: Dried ingredients like sugar and salt pull out liquid from fruits and veggies through a process called maceration. When making a pie or crisp, this is important because it reduces the amount of liquid released by the fruit during baking, keeping the texture of the dessert tight instead of watery.

Per serving (1/6 recipe): calories: 278; fat: 0.8 g; calories from fat: 3%; cholesterol: 0 mg; protein: 4 g; carbohydrates: 70 g; sugar: 49 g; fiber: 5 g; sodium: 1 mg

Recipe by Jason Wyrick found in 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart: Boost Metabolism, Lower Cholesterol, and Dramatically Improve Your Health by Neal Barnard, M.D.