BACON AND PRUNE STUFFED APPLES
Bacon fried with onions and apples is a typical Swedish comfort-food dish, one to whip up for a quick lunch. It’s a flavour combination you can’t go wrong with. Adding the prunes gives a touch of sweetness.
Serves 4-6
1 slice of bread
4 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped
2 knobs of butter
½tsp ground allspice
1 red onion, peeled and very finely chopped
4 medium apples or 6 small
4 soft prunes, finely chopped
2tbsp finely chopped parsley leaves
Preheat the oven to 170°C/fan 150°C/ gas 3. When the oven is ready, put the slice of bread on a baking tray and place in the oven. Once the bread is dry and crisp, remove. Put the bacon, a knob of butter, the allspice and the red onion into a frying pan over a medium heat. Fry until soft and golden, then remove and put into a bowl. Set aside the pan for later. Trim
the top off one of the apples. Use a spoon to scoop out a couple of tablespoons of the core and the apple flesh, discarding the core and pips. Be careful not to scoop too close to the outside of the apples. You want to create a wall that is several millimetres thick. Repeat with the other apples. Take some of the apple flesh and finely chop, then add to the bacon bowl along with the prunes. Mix well, then stuff the mixture back into the apples before putting the lids back on. Put the apples into a baking dish then bake for 15-20 minutes or until the apples are soft but still holding their shape.
Meanwhile, grate the bread roughly and add to the frying pan with a knob of butter. Fry for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. To serve, place an apple on a plate and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and parsley.
From The Little Swedish Kitchen by Rachel Khoo, Michael Joseph, €23.