Edible San Diego

Charcuterie with Homemade Apple Butter

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Breakfasts

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Prep Time
COOK TIME
SERVE
15 minutes minutes
2 hours minutes
6–8

MIHO’s Pairing Vision: Simple, Local, Unexpected - Featuring Rancho Guejito’s Grenache Blanc

Chef Rocio Siso-Gurriaran, culinary visionary at creative event studio MIHO, embraces food much like Rancho Guejito approaches its wine—celebrating local flavors without unnecessary embellishments. With that in mind, Rocio created a pairing rooted in simplicity: toasted brioche slathered with homemade apple butter, topped with cured ham and a delicate cheese. “I wanted [to create] something that people could easily make at home, using ingredients that honor what grows here,” Rocio explained.

The pairing was a perfect balance. The richness of the brioche, the sweet and spicy apple butter made with local Sea Canyon apples, and the saltiness of the ham married beautifully with the creamy yet lightly oxidative grenache blanc. This pairing exemplified how ingredients—like wines—can echo the landscape they come from, delivering a true taste of San Diego at its finest.
For spring, Rocio suggested a fresh twist: a bright, citrus-focused spin on the apple butter, with blood oranges replacing apples.

Read the full story

 

Originally published in issue 77.

Image by Jen Lo for Edible San Diego.

Charcuterie with Homemade Apple Butter


Homemade Apple Butter

  • 4 pounds apples (such as Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 1 cup apple juice or water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1⁄2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Charcuterie

  • 4 Bread & Cie brioche bread buns, toasted and sliced in half
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced Parisian ham from the Lazy Acres deli counter
  • 4 ounces sliced Idiazabal cheese from Venissimo
  • 1⁄2 cup homemade apple butter

Make Charcuterie

  • Make the apple butter: Place the chopped apples in a cast iron or Dutch oven. Pour in the apple juice or water and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples should become very soft and caramelized. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt and mix with a wooden spoon until combined. Use an immersion blender to purée the apple mixture until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the apples to a regular blender in batches and blend into a smooth texture. Continue to cook apple butter on low (uncovered to allow steam to escape) for 45 more minutes, or until the apple butter has thickened to your desired consistency, like smooth peanut butter. Let cool, then transfer to jars. Store the apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Prepare the toast: Lightly toast the brioche until golden. Cut each slice into quarters or triangles for easy serving.
  • Arrange the board: Place the meat, cheese slices, and toasted brioche on a serving board. Put the apple butter into a small dish with a spoon for serving.
  • Serve: Invite guests to create their own combinations by layering the meat, cheese, and apple butter on the brioche toast, or enjoying each item individually.

Chef Rocio Siso-Gurriaran

Recipe courtesy of Chef Rocio Siso-Gurriaran, culinary visionary at creative event studio MIHO.

A SPECIAL GUEST EDITORIAL COLLABORATION WITH CAMPESTRE MAG

Campestre Mag serves as the guest wine editor in issue 77. Founded by Heidi Greenwood, Campestre Mag has become a celebrated voice in the local wine scene, spotlighting the rich and diverse wine cultures of San Diego and Baja California. Since its launch in 2019, Campestre has built a reputation as a biannual indie wine zine that seamlessly weaves together national and global stories of the wine industry and its impact on local communities. Known for its thoughtful collaborations with local writers, businesses, and creatives, the publication reflects a deep commitment to community and sustainability. In this guest editorial role, Campestre brings its deep understanding of the wine industry to Edible San Diego. It offers readers fresh insights into local viticulture and celebrates the people and stories behind the region’s thriving wine culture. This partnership underscores Campestre’s mission to amplify the narratives that make San Diego’s wine industry so dynamic and unique. This special feature promises to be a standout collaboration between two publications championing the best in food, wine, and community.