It’s apple season and with it comes a family favorite: apple picking! But this fall season, forgo the traditional apple pie and use your apples creatively with these four Latin recipes that have apples as the star of the dish.

Apple Buñuelos

Buñuelos are fried dough balls, which are hugely popular in South America and other parts of the world and can be made sweet or savory. This version hails from Argentina, and includes shredded apples in the mix. To make them, mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, oil and shredded apples. Form into balls and fry until golden. Dust with confectioner’s sugar.

Peruvian Pork Stew with Chiles and Apples

This is a spicy and sweet pork stew from Peru, cooked with onions and scented with chilies, lime and cloves. To prepare it, brown pieces of pork shoulder while you sautéing onions and apples with chilies, bay leaves and cloves. Combine all ingredients and braise until the pork is very tender. Serve over steamed rice and garnish with cilantro.

Apple Pie Taquitos

These apple pie taquitos are crispy and delicious and require only a few ingredients: apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter and flour tortillas. To make the filling, melt butter, brown and cinnamon followed by diced apples. Cook until tender. Fill flour tortillas with the apple pie mixture; roll tight, brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake until crispy and enjoy!

Mexican Apple Salad

This refreshing apple salad resembles a Waldorf salad and is usually made during Christmas in Mexico, either served on small plates over lettuce leaves or in small glass cups. To make it, soak diced apples in a mixture of water and lime juice (prevents the apples from browning). Discard lime water and mix the apples with chopped celery, raisins, and pecans. Add a mixture of cream, mayonnaise, diced pineapple, shredded coconut, and small marshmallows. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with cherries.

So this fall, go and get your apple on!

by Alex Tabar & Erika Morillo