As you have noticed from our other articles, we appreciate a balanced, healthy diet and we are always looking for inspiration. Today you will find more about quince, an underrated fruit which has lots of benefits for your health. Quince belongs to the Rosaceae family, which also includes apples and pears. You won’t be able to find it all year long, it is available especially in autumn and winter and it is very popular in Romanian cuisine.
When ripe, this fruit is golden yellow in color and resembles a pear in shape. In fact, it is used in traditional recipes in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions where it is stewed with lamb, goat and pork.
Did you know that quince is very rich in vitamins A, B and C and it has many minerals like potassium, copper, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and magnesium? It is low in calories and you must consume it if you want to lose weight. It is also used to treat stomach pains, nausea and it is great in winter because it helps you treat the cold.
Due to its many health benefits and its incredible taste, we propose you a quince pie recipe.
Quince Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
3 cups thinly sliced peeled quinces (about 2 medium)
1 can (5-1/2 ounces) unsweetened apple juice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
Pastry for single-crust pie (9 inches)
5 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (about 5 medium)
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
TOPPING:
1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter
Preparation:
- In a large saucepan, combine the quinces and apple juice. Place cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with string to form a bag. Add to pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until quinces are crisp-tender.
- Uncover; simmer 8-12 minutes longer or until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons. Discard spice bag. Cool for 5 minutes.
- Line a 9-in. pie plate with pastry. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond the edge of plate; flute edges. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Gently stir in quince mixture. Spoon into crust.
- For the topping, in a small bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle overfilling.
- Bake at 375° for 50-60 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
- Enjoy!