Perfecting your pie: Simple tips for the ideal apple filling
You can prepare an apple pie with virtually any variety of apples. Some people claim that the best pie comes with the addition of sour and not very juicy fruits. However, it often only becomes clear in practice whether the apples have the right consistency after being cooked. If the filling is too runny, you can use one of several simple methods.
If you have plenty of time, you don't need to add anything to the apples. Like sauces and stews, you can also reduce the filling for the apple pie by cooking the fruits in an open pan for a sufficiently long time. However, this is not a process that allows you to multitask. You need to watch and stir the apples so they don’t stick.
How to thicken apples with potato starch?
One of the simpler methods that immediately gives the desired effect is to add 1-2 tablespoons of potato starch to the fruits. You need to dissolve the starch in a small amount of cold water and then mix it with the hot apples in the pan. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until it reaches a jelly-like consistency.
Method for apples using jelly or pudding powder
Instead of potato starch, you can add lemon jelly or a mild vanilla-flavoured pudding. Gradually add 2-3 tablespoons of the powder to the hot apples, stirring the filling vigorously each time to prevent lumps.
Lemon-flavoured jelly will enhance the acidity of the apples and give them more depth. Meanwhile, pudding will make them creamier and smoother.
Grandma’s apple pie filling method
Another effective method for thickening the fruit filling for the pie is to add 2-3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs or semolina to it. Both ingredients easily absorb excess water, and with such a small amount, neither the semolina nor the breadcrumbs will be noticeable in taste.
A good practice is pre-baking the crust. Simply line a tray with shortcrust pastry and place it in an oven preheated to 180 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. Once the crust is golden brown, place the apples on it and cover them with crumble - this is the simplest and best recipe for homemade apple pie.
