I don’t know about you but when it comes to the point halfway between my once-every two-weeks grocery shopping trip, I start to get a little desperate, digging into the back of the pantry for ingredients, using up those still-good shelf stable fruits and veggies and grabbing stuff from the freezer that is questionable in origin. Luckily that’s not all bad, and it’s the aforementioned activities that resulted in this tahini apple crumble.
First, let me tell you that it’s not really a crumble in the way that you think it might be. It’s sort of like microwaved baked whole apples finished in the oven with a crumble topping. It’s quicker than a crumble, healthier and also makes everything into neat single serving portions. However, for lack of anything better to call it, I’m calling it a tahini apple crumble because it captures the essence of what we’ve got here.
Apples are one of those fruits that have becomes more of a shopping staple as of late. Not that I don’t love apples, but I’m more of a berry person when it comes to my weekly fruit haul. Berries are good for the first week, but apples make it last to the second. This batch of Fujis was almost at the point that I’d be making apple sauce, but they were just perfect for today’s purposes. I started them in the microwave to get mostly cooked, meaning that I was able to cut the cooking time down by more than half had I made a regular cobbler. The faster to get it in my belly, I say. (For another microwaved baked apple option, see here!)
The something extra in this crumble is the tahini- I did a complete 1:1 swap for the butter because I had some tahini in the pantry no doubt nearing it’s shelf life and it needed to be used up. Note that this means that the crumble part may not be as crispy as it’s buttery counterpart, but it adds what I think is a lovely nutty taste. In other words, I didn’t miss the butter.
Flour, almond flour, honey, brown sugar and cinnamon round it out. Topped with plain Greek yogurt and an extra squirt of honey, it’s a perfect and healthy and warming and comforting dish for breakfast, afternoon snack or dessert. Got ice cream? Lucky you, I wish I had, because you could add that instead of the yogurt. Same goes for whipped cream. I had neither so…I guess it’s time to go to the store.
Tahini Apple Crumble
Tahini Apple Crumble is a traditional apple crumble with a slight hint of savory thanks to salty tahini.
Ingredients
- 2 apples, any sort, halved and cored
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 2 TB tahini
- 2 TB honey
- 1 TB brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2 TB flour
- 2 TB almond flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- Greek yogurt, whipped cream or ice cream to serve
Directions
- Step 1 Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 350F.
- Step 2 In a small bowl, mix together the 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture on all four apple halves. In a place all in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes.
- Step 3 Meanwhile, mix the rest of the ingredients (tahini, honey, brown sugar, oats, almond flour, and all-purpose flour) in another bowl to make sure everything is well incorporated. The mixture will be crumbly.
- Step 4 When the apples are finished in the microwave, place the halves slice side up in an oven save bowl or ramekin. Press the oat mixture atop each apple and bake them for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
- Step 5 Top with Greek yogurt, ice cream or whipped cream to serve, and another drizzle of honey if desired. Serve warm or cold.
