Apple-Raspberry Nut Crumble

MAKES 6 SERVINGS • PREP TIME: 10 minutes • COOK TIME: 45 minutes

Here’s an example of equal parts observation and inspiration. I went over my friend Wendy’s house because she was testing an apple crumble recipe. I was tasting it, and started dipping my bites into a slowly burbling pot of raspberry sauce and going nuts over the sauce. Wendy silently noted what was going on, and after I left she tried the combination and had her own “aha!” moment. As she pondered how nicely their flavors—tart opposite sweet—tangoed together, she eventually came up with this recipe. It’s a veritable health factory: raspberries help with everything from keeping skin elastic to fighting inflammation, walnuts are high in omega-3s, and apples have pectin for soothing the tummy. Call it serendipity or just a keen eye, but either way this is a sweet bite that was meant to be.

Filling

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick wedges
Pinch of sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup unfiltered apple cider
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

Topping

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup almond flour, homemade or store-bought
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons Grade B maple syrup
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

To make the filling, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. (If you use an 8-inch ovenproof skillet, you can bake the crumble right in the skillet.) Add the apple slices and salt and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg and cook, stirring gently and frequently for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the apple cider and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to low and simmer until the apples are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the raspberries and vanilla. Transfer to a pie plate. (You can skip this step if using an ovenproof skillet.)

Meanwhile, make the topping. Put the walnuts, almond flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir to combine. In a separate small bowl, whisk the maple syrup and olive oil together.
Pour into the walnut mixture and stir until well combined.

To assemble and bake the crumble, spoon the topping evenly over the filling. Bake for about 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

COOK'S NOTE: You can eat this crumble for breakfast if you like; try it with a dollop of yogurt on top.

Reprinted with permission from The Longevity Kitchen: Satisfying Big-Flavor Recipes Featuring the Top 16 Age-Busting Power Foods Copyright © 2013 by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson, Ten Speed Press, a division of the Crown Publishing Group, Berkeley, CA.