Apple pecan tart

dessertgluten-freedairy-freevegetarian
Written By Ioana Fields

How do you create recipes? Sometimes it's a craving or a memory, a curiosity, or in my case, I had a lot of apples that were going bad. So I was staring at those apples and thinking: what to do with them? An apple tart seemed like a great idea!

I would also want to mention that I don't encourage food waste, so throwing away food is not something I do. Food waste is an insult to the hard work put into growing food, and I should know as a gardener. Food waste is also a waste of money, the same money you work so hard for every single day. Food waste also exacerbates the climate change crisis with its significant greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. Production, transportation, and handling of food generate significant Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, and when food ends up in landfills, it generates methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas. So if you buy it, EAT IT!

RECIPE

Ingredients

Tart crust

2.5 cups almond flour

1 egg/vegan egg/flax egg

1/4 cup melted coconut oil or MCT oil

1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

1 Tbsp brown coconut sugar

Date caramel

20 organic Medjool dates soaked

2 Tbsp salted peanut butter or nut butter of choice

1 Tbsp MCT oil

1/2 cup date juice from soaked dates

1 Tbsp seedless tamarind paste 

Apple filling

6 organic Fuji apples, with peel on

1 tsp coconut brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

*Pecans as needed for decorating 

Instructions 

  • Soak the dates for 30 minutes in hot water; 

  • Make the crust; 

Tart crust

  • Mix all the ingredients into a dough;

  • Add a layer of parchment paper in a tart pan, spread the dough evenly to form a crust, and poke with a fork;

  • Bake the tart for 12 minutes at 350F;

  • Allow it to cool before adding the caramel; 

  • Make the caramel; 

Date caramel

  • Soak the dates for 30 minutes in hot water, and squeeze out the excess water but don't throw the water/juice away. Measure 1/2 cup of date juice and add to the other ingredients; 

  • Add the dates and the rest of the ingredients to a blender, and blend on high speed until smooth caramel forms; 

  • Set the caramel aside and make the apple filing; 

Apple filling

  • Grate the apples, including the skin; 

  • Squeeze out the apple juice as best as you can, use the pulp for the filling, and drink the juice; 

  • Mix the apple pulp with brown sugar and cinnamon, and set aside;

Make the tart

  • Set the tart crust and start layering fillings; 

  • Add 3 parts of the caramel inside the tart crust, and keep 1 part for decorating; 

  • Add the apple filling on top of the caramel in an equal layer; 

  • Decorate with pecan nuts and the rest of the caramel into your desired pattern; 

  • Bake at 350F for another 20 minutes; 

  • Allow the tart to cool off before slicing. 

Enjoy!

As usual, these are my thoughts and ideas, not medical advice. You are encouraged to create your own recipes or search for some suited to your needs. I am just sharing my recipes, hoping that I can inspire some of you to make healthier food choices.

Please remember that we all have different nutritional needs and that food affects us differently. If you are not sure which foods are best for you, reach out for a free phone consultation. 

In good health,

Ioana

Ioana Fields
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