Hard Apple Cider Pork Chops

 

Pork chops were buy-one-get-one-free at Winn Dixie this week, so we’ve got more than we know what to do with now.  Last night I tried out a new recipe.  I’ve had pork with apples before, but this one also used a bottle of hard apple cider to infuse it with even more apple flavor.  It only took a few minutes to throw together.   

The alcohol cooks away, but if you could use just plain apple cider or juice if you’d like too (I didn’t want a whole 6-pack of cider, so I just picked up one bottle from ABC…they probably thought it was weird that I only bought that…)

Hard Apple Cider Pork Chops (adapted from Aggie’s Kitchen)

Ingredients:

·        Thin boneless pork loin chops (we cooked 5)

·        1 t salt

·        1 t pepper

·        1½ t fresh rosemary

·        1 t garlic powder

·        2 Golden Delicious apples, chopped into large chunks

·        1 red onion, chopped

·        1 yellow onion (or we used 2 small ones), chopped

·        1 12-oz bottle apple cider

·        Drizzle of olive oil

Directions:

1.  Mix together salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic powder together in a small bowl.  Season both sides of the pork chops generously. 

 

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Place the pork chops on the pan and cook for 4 minutes, or until chops are golden brown.  Cook on the other side for an additional 4 minutes.  Set aside on a plate. 

3. Put the sliced onions and apples in the skillet and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.  Pour in part of the hard cider (about ¼ cup) and deglaze pan while tossing the apples and onions. 

 

4. Add rest of the cider and let simmer for 5 minutes uncovered until the liquid starts to reduce.  Add the pork chops back to the skillet and cover.  Turn off heat and let sit 1-2 minutes. 

 

 

5. Serve pork chops and top with the apple and onion mixture.  We enjoyed ours with a simple salad (we had lots of veggies in our fridge we had to use up!)