Description
Warm apple cider braised pork shoulder melts into tender, succulent bites that bring comfort straight to your dinner table. Slow-cooking this classic dish rewards your taste buds with rich, deeply satisfying flavors that make weeknight meals feel special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 lbs pork shoulder
- 2 cups apple cider
Aromatics:
- 1 large onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
Seasoning and Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Thoroughly blot your 4-pound pork shoulder using paper towels, then generously coat every surface with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven at medium-high temperature until oil begins to shimmer and dance.
- Carefully place the seasoned pork shoulder into the hot pan, searing for 4-5 minutes per side until a rich, golden-brown crust develops.
- Transfer the beautifully browned pork to a separate plate, keeping those delicious caramelized edges intact.
- Chop your large onion into small dice and mince 4 cloves of garlic directly into the same pot.
- Sauté the aromatics for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until they become soft and release their fragrant essence.
- Pour in 2 cups of apple cider, adding 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar.
- Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delectable browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- Gently return the pork shoulder to the pot, ensuring it’s partially submerged in the liquid mixture.
- Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and braise for 3-4 hours until the meat becomes incredibly tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.
- Discard the bay leaves before serving to prevent any bitter flavors.
- Allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes, then use two forks to shred the succulent pork into delectable pieces.
- Drizzle the remaining braising liquid over the shredded meat for extra moisture and flavor.
Notes
- Select a well-marbled pork shoulder for maximum tenderness and rich flavor during braising.
- Always pat the meat completely dry before searing to guarantee a beautiful golden-brown crust that locks in moisture.
- Use a heavy Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid to maintain consistent, even heat throughout the long cooking process.
- Consider swapping apple cider for hard cider or chicken stock if you prefer a different flavor profile, and adjust seasoning accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Pork
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 488 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 404 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg