Why Applesauce Is An Important Staple Of Amish Cuisine

The Amish communities across the United States often appear mysterious to people who are not part of it. Wearing simple clothes with covers on their heads and driving horse-drawn buggies, the Amish have been part of the American population for centuries. The Amish living in the U.S. trace their ancestors back to Europe, particularly Germany and Switzerland, according to Britannica, and many aspects of these cultural origins, including foods, continue to reflect that influence. Home to one of the largest and oldest Amish populations in the country is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where everything Amish is celebrated.

According to Taste of Home, baking and cooking are significant parts of the Amish culture. The food enjoyed by the Amish is typically full of flavor, yet uncomplicated, according to The Travel. Popular dishes include apple desserts, beef and noodles, soft pretzels, and pies.  Scrapple is another popular meal, which is made of pork scraps, trimmings, cornmeal, and wheat flour that is sliced after it has been formed into a loaf-like shape and then it is fried, per The Travel. The ingredients that the Amish use for their meals are often grown by themselves or others who live nearby, thus they rely on the freshest of apples, potatoes, eggs, and vegetables for their recipes (via Taste of Home).

A plethora of apples

A common item on the Amish dinner table for every meal is applesauce, according to Taste of Home. Grace Schlabach, the Amish owner of an apple orchard in Lyndonville, New York, told Amish 365 that apples are often used for applesauce, hand-pressed cider, and baked goods, such as pies, cakes, bars, and dumplings. Schlabach said that apples make an appearance at meals in different forms, from simple sliced apples to fresh apple butter. It is applesauce that makes it onto the table for nearly every meal because it goes so well with all kinds of foods, according to Taste of Home.

A traditional Amish recipe for applesauce on Amish Shop states to wash and slice apples into quarters before cooking them until they become soft. Then, put the apples through a strainer before adding ½ cup of sugar (or as much as desired) to each quart of applesauce. Finally, stir and then put in cans. While it may be hard to get to Amish country for some authentic farm-fresh applesauce, it can also easily be made in your kitchen.