3 Apple Cider Recipes to Cook This Fall

The leaves are turning red and the wind is now chilly — fall is here and Thanksgiving is almost here. But don’t let the ongoing pandemic stop you from getting creative with your recipes and going virtual this Thanksgiving. In our previous post titled How to Have a Virtual Thanksgiving Gathering, we listed a few ways on how to celebrate the holiday digitally. Your Thanksgiving feast will still be memorable by selecting your virtual companions and choosing your fall-themed beverages.

A typical Thanksgiving beverage is apple cider, as apples are ripe for picking this time of the year. However, apple cider can be used in a lot of savory dishes too. In her book, Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, award-winning chef Samin Nosrat noted that every delicious meal needs four things: salt for flavor, fat and heat for texture, and, most importantly, acid for balance. Nosrat further explained that most condiments available, like cranberry sauce and relish, are acidic in nature. But to get that tangy balance, the best option is to add citrus — which apple cider is a good option for — to your recipes.

So to get those chef-approved flavors, here are apple cider recipes you can try this Thanksgiving.

Apple Cider Roasted Chicken

Turkey may be the Thanksgiving staple, but roast chicken is always a great dish to have on your table too. Aside from its versatility, chicken is much easier and quicker to cook than a turkey, which makes it perfect for pairing with new ingredients. Marinate your chicken in a mixture of apple cider, white wine, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs for at least eight hours. The marinade will not only give your chicken a tangy taste from within, but as proven by a study published in the Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, apple cider is able to amplify the tenderness of chicken meat better than other acids. Just don’t over-marinate it to avoid making it tough and stringy.

While roasting your chicken, you have the option to prepare a cider mustard sauce. Just whisk together chicken stock, apple cider, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and cornstarch with olive oil and herbs. Bring them to a boil and season to taste. This versatile sauce isn’t just great for chicken—it can also be a delicious addition to a Flying Dutchman burger recipe, adding a tangy twist to the flavors.

Cider Sausage Casserole

If you’re looking for the savory swirl of pork flavors combined with a zesty splash of cider this Thanksgiving, a cider sausage casserole is for you. After browning the sausage and bacon, create a stock of butter, tomato purée, apple cider, mustard, onion, garlic, and other herbs. Stir the meat and the stock together, and cook it in the oven for 40 minutes.

While waiting, slice some apples into wedges and cook them in butter and seasoning. Once the casserole is done, mix in the apples and season to taste. Serve it with mashed potatoes or a side of salad.

Sautéed Cabbage

This easy-to-cook Thanksgiving side dish can easily be matched with savory main dishes, like roasted turkey. It might look simple, but health writer Sandi Busch highlights the importance of the kind of cabbage you will use. The cruciferous green cabbage contains a slightly sweet and savory taste, for instance, while red cabbage has a more peppery flavor. There’s no right option, as they are all nutritious; just make sure the cabbage that you’ll be using agrees with your palette!

To make sautéed cabbage, begin by caramelizing onions and placing the shredded cabbage leaves in batches. Add minced garlic for that hearty aroma, and a splash of apple cider to enhance the flavor. Then, season to taste with salt, pepper, and red chili flakes.

This Thanksgiving, test the limits of your pantry with these exciting apple cider recipes. Trying out with new ingredients, when incorporated into your recipe correctly, will often award you with surprisingly delicious meals.