Description
Cider Braised Pork beckons with rustic comfort straight from a farmhouse kitchen. Tender meat and caramelized potatoes and onions mingle in a rich apple cider sauce that warms your soul.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless pork shoulder
- 2 lbs small red potatoes
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 large onion
- 2 cups apple cider
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Coat 2 lbs pork shoulder generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a Dutch oven at medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Sear the seasoned pork chunks for 3-4 minutes per side until a deep golden-brown crust forms. Transfer meat to a plate.
- Dice 1 large onion and add to the same pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent and soft.
- Mince 2 garlic cloves and add to the onions. Cook for 60 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Pour 2 cups apple cider into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all browned bits from the bottom.
- Whisk 1 tablespoon dijon mustard and 1 teaspoon dried thyme into the liquid.
- Return pork chunks to the pot. Halve 2 lbs small red potatoes and nestle them around the meat.
- Bring liquid to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover pot tightly, and braise for 2.5 hours.
- Check pork at 2 hours – it should pull apart effortlessly with a fork. If not, continue cooking.
- Remove lid for final 15 minutes to allow sauce to reduce and concentrate flavors.
Notes
- Sear the pork carefully to develop a rich, golden crust that locks in flavor and creates delicious browned bits for deglazing.
- Choose a crisp, not-too-sweet apple cider to balance the richness of the pork and provide depth to the braising liquid.
- Cut potatoes into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking, helping them become perfectly tender without falling apart.
- For a gluten-free version, confirm your mustard is gluten-free and use alternative thickeners if needed for the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours 5 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg