Nigella Lawson's secret apple crumble ingredient makes the classic winter warmer sing

05 November 2023 , 09:34

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Apple crumble is beloved by Brits during the winter (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

With its origins lying in the Second World War, apple crumble is one of the UK's most popular winter treats.

Back then, it was considered a good alternative to apple pie when pastry was hard to come by amid a strict rationing system. But while its origins lie in such an austere time, the classic dessert is these days regarded as much more luxurious.

For many sweet-toothed Brits, it is simply the ultimate comfort food in the colder months. And celebrity chef Nigella Lawson promises that a small addition to the dish can take it from good to great.

A self-confessed lover of all things sweet, Lawson believes adding Marsala to apple crumble is a great way to make it even more flavourful. Her website reads: “Yes, my portions are always generous, but the thing is on certain days we just ate this - the two of us - for supper in its entirety.

“Cooked more traditionally, it’s enough for three comfortably and if you have small children eating with you, then it’ll stretch to four." Lawson also advises us to use a small dish for her recipe.

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Ingredients

• 25 grams of raisins or sultanas
• Three x 15 ml tablespoons marsala
• 100 grams plain flour
• 50 grams unsalted butter (cold, cut into little squares)
• 60 grams walnut pieces
• 45 grams of light brown sugar plus one heaped tablespoon
• Around 500 grams of cooking apples such as Bramley

First, you should preheat your oven to 190C or 170C with a fan. Add the raisins and marsala to a small saucepan and heat it until it starts to bubble. You should then turn off the heat and leave the pan on the warm hob.

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson believes Marala holds the key to a great apple crumble (Newcastle Chronicle)

Next, put the flour in a bowl and run in some butter using your fingertips. Finely chop the walnuts before singing a fork and adding it to your crumble mixture to set aside in a cool place.

You should then prepare your apples by peeling them, quartering them and cutting out the core. If your apples are small, slice the quarters in half. If they're large, cut the quarters into three or four pieces.

Add the apples to the pan with your raisins and stir in a tablespoon of sugar before turning the heat back on and bringing it back to a bubble. Next, put on a tight-fitting lid and let it cook for another five minutes or so until the edges of the apples are soft.

Move the fruit mix into a small oval pie dish and cover it with the crumble mixture. Put the lot into your oven and bake it for around 25 minutes until the the topping starts to look golden. You can serve the finished product with ice cream or custard.

Jamie Saunderson