Crab Apple And Rosemary Sauce

Crab apple with rosemary is a delicious blend of sweet and savory. Our crab apple sauce requires no pectin and is low in sugar. We don’t want to brag, but it might just be the best crab apple preserve you’ve ever tried.

Say hello to our delicious small-batch crab apple sauce.

When a neighbour surprised us with two pounds of crabapples, we were left wondering what to do with them. Unsurprisingly, our answer was to turn them into crabapple sauce. We always get inspiration for our jams from a variety of sources. This time, the inspiration came from a visit to a local market, where we tasted apple galettes with rosemary and a touch of sea salt. The sweet and savoury taste of the galettes was out of this world. We did our best to capture the essence of these fantastic backed goodies with the unique flavour of our crabapple sauce.

Crabapples used in this recipe

In this recipe, we used red crab apples. Despite their sweet appearance, in truth, they are known to be the sourest of all crabapples. You can use crabapples of any color to make this crab apple sauce; just ensure you remove any bruised or spoiled bits.

Crab Apple Sauce Yield

The quantity of ingredients listed in this recipes yielded one 8 oz (250 ml) of crabapple sauce for canning, with some left over to enjoy right away. The number of jars required may vary depending on the desired sauce consistency.

Small Batch Crab Apple Sauce with Rosemary

Inspired by the apple galettes with rosemary and sea salt that we tasted at our local farmers' market, this crabapple with rosemary preserve stands out due to its unparalleled flavor, versatility, and gourmet appeal.

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Resting time 8 hours hrs

Ingredients  

• 1 ½ lbs crabapples
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ small lemon juiced, not more than 1 tbsp.
• ¾ cup water
• 1 small sprig of rosemary

Equipment

• large pot with a heavy bottom
• wooden spoon
• large bowl
• colander with large holes
• potholders, oven mitts, trivets for hot dishes

Method 

Prepare the Crabapples:

• Begin by giving the crabapples a thorough wash. Keep the skin on but remove stems, calyxes, and any bruised or spoiled spots.
• Cut the apples in half, and if they’re large, into quarters.

Mix and Steep:

• In a suitable-sized, heavy-bottomed pot, combine the cut crabapples, lemon juice, water, rosemary sprig, salt, and sugar. Mix everything together.
• Allow the pot to sit for about an hour to let the sugar and salt dissolve.

Simmer, Steep, Simmer:

• Place the pot over low heat and gently bring the mixture to a boil.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the crabapples cook for 15 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, cover the pot with a lid, and let the crabapples mixture steep for 6-8 hours or even overnight.
• Return the crabapples to the stove and, using medium-low heat, slowly bring them to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the crabapples simmer for 10 minutes.

Mash and Strain Cooked Crabapples:

• Let the pot cool down a bit. Using a potato masher, gently mash the stewed crabapples.
• In the next step, you'll need a large bowl and a colander with large holes ready. Place the colander on top of the bowl to catch the juices and crabapple pulp. Transfer the pot contents to the colander and, using a silicon spatula or a large metal spoon, press the mashed crabapples against the colander's holes, pushing the pulp and juices through.

Simmer and Prepare Crabapple Sauce For Canning:

• Return the crabapple pulp and juices to the pot and slowly bring them to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
• Allow the sauce to simmer for an additional 30 minutes for a runnier consistency, or up to 40 minutes for a thicker sauce Be sure to stir regularly.

  (!) While the crabapple sauce is cooking, begin preparing the Mason jars. It's important to have your jars ready at this point, because the next step, filling them with piping hot sauce, must follow immediately.

The quantity of ingredients listed in this recipes yielded one 8 oz (250 ml) of crabapple sauce for canning, with some left over to enjoy right away. The number of jars required may vary depending on the desired sauce consistency.

Preserve Type: Sauce

Cuisine: European

Diet: Gluten Free, Halal, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegetarian

Keywords: Crab Apple Butter, Crab Apple Jam for Canning, Crab Apple Preserve, Crab Apple Rosemary Sauce, How to make Crab Apple Jam

Processing Times Chart & Canning Methods ➡️

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to eat crabapples?

Surprisingly, the safety of crab apples is a common question that frequently arises in search engines. There appears to be a persistent myth suggesting that crab apples are poisonous. However, despite not being the tastiest among apples, crabapples are safe to eat and also quite healthy!

Are crabapples good to eat?

Crab apples are a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants. They come in various colors like red, yellow, and green. Admittedly, some varieties can be quite bitter, especially the red ones, which can be astringent, not exactly what you’d munch on for a snack. But don’t dismiss them just yet! These tiny apples are delicious in pies and make fantastic jams that are definitely worth trying.

What do you eat this crabapple jam with?

• This crabapple jam has a sauce like consistency and can be used in place of savory sauces whenever you are reaching out for an apple sauce.
• Use it on flatbreads or galettes instead of apples when making savory baked goods.
• Serve it alongside cheeses, particularly hard or semi-hard varieties like cheddar.
• Our crab apple jam pairs exceptionally well with pork belly.