It may not be sweater weather yet, but fall is right around the corner. In Italy, that means the end of tomato season and the arrival of autumnal delights, including apples. There are more than 7,500 different types of apples grown throughout the world and while you might not associate them with Italy, there are some delicious varieties grown up north in Trentino Alto Adige, Lombardy, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. As we prepare to usher in autumn, we thought we’d help you make the most of the season by rounding up six apple recipes from our guest hosts, with both sweet and savory options.
Marissa Mullen’s Cheddar + Apple Crostini
You can never go wrong with crostini and we love that this recipe combines both sweet and savory flavors. Marissa’s recipe calls for you to sautée the apples in maple syrup and vanilla extract, but if you wanted to tone down the sweetness, you could simply sautée them with salted butter and cinnamon.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Marissa’s tour of Parma here
Pamela Salzman’s Fall Salad Recipe with Apples and Walnut Vinaigrette
We love putting apples and walnuts in salads and can’t wait to try this version, in which Pamela blends the walnuts into a creamy vinaigrette with maple syrup, olive oil, and some flaky sea salt. She recommends adding a pinch of cinnamon to the mix in order to impart the vinaigrette with a bit of fall warming spices.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Pamela’s tour of Salento & Central Puglia here
Laura Vitale’s Roasted Rack of Pork with Apple and Onion Stuffing
In Italy, it’s considered unusual to combine fruit and meat, but we think this roasted pork with apple and onion stuffing might just change Italians’ minds. Laura recommends using ciabatta for the stuffing, but says that sourdough would work well too.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Laura’s tour of Salento & Central Puglia here
Leah Koenig’s Fig-Glazed Chicken with Apples
As late summer transitions into fall, there comes a short period when both figs and apples are in season. Leah’s recipe uses a fig jam glaze brushed over crispy roasted chicken, but we think it wouldn’t hurt to add some fresh figs too, if you can find them. Fresh thyme adds a nice savory note. We have a feeling this might become one of our favorite apple recipes.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Leah’s tour of Sicily here
Erin O’Brien’s Spiced Apple Crumble
Is there a dessert that evokes autumn more than apple crumble? We don’t think so. Erin’s recipe is so quick and easy, you can throw it together and stick it in the oven while you’re preparing the rest of your meal. Be sure to follow Erin’s suggestion and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Erin’s tour of Parma here
Elizabeth Minchilli’s Apple Strudel
Though it might seem more Austrian than Italian, apple strudel is a beloved dessert in Italy and it’s one of our favorite tried-and-true apple recipes. Elizabeth’s classic recipe omits raisins, which sometimes make their way into strudel, and comes topped with a rich crema inglese. Her trick to keeping this recipe approachable? Buy ready-made puff pastry.
Get the recipe here | Learn more about Elizabeth’s tour of Umbria here
Featured photo by Erin O’Brien.
