Roasted Pork Chops With Hard Cider Jus Food

ROASTED PORK CHOPS WITH HARD CIDER JUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Pat pork chops dry and sprinkle both sides with sea salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chops in 3 batches, turning once, 6 minutes per batch, and transfer with tongs to a large shallow baking pan (1 inch deep).
• Add shallots and remaining tablespoon butter to skillet and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add cider and boil, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 3 minutes.
• Spoon shallots and sauce around chops and roast in lower third of oven until thermometer inserted horizontally into center of 1 chop (do not touch bone) registers 150°F, 7 to 9 minutes.
• Let chops stand, loosely covered with foil, 5 minutes (temperature will rise to 155°F while standing). Serve chops with shallots and sauce.

CIDER-BRAISED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Pat chops dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown chops in two batches, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to plate.
• Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot and cook onion over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic, flour, and 2 tablespoons apple butter and cook until onions are coated and mixture is fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir in cider and thyme, scraping up any browned bits with wooden spoon, and bring to boil. Add browned chops and any accumulated juices to pot, cover, and transfer to oven.
• Braise until chops are completely tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Transfer chops to serving platter. Strain sauce, then use a shallow spoon to skim off fat. ( Note - a fat separator, if you own one, is a much better method to discard excess fat.).
• Whisk in vinegar, parsley, and remaining apple butter. Season with salt and pepper. Serve, passing sauce at table.
• NOTE - The chops and sauce can be refrigerated separately for up to 2 days. To serve, heat sauce and chops together over medium heat until chops are warmed through.

PORK CHOPS WITH HARD CIDER PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the spice rub, in a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.
• Slash the edges of the chops in 2 or 3 places to prevent curling.
• Sprinkle rub all over the chops and let stand at room temperature for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour.
• Coat the bottom of a large, heavy frying pan with the olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add the chops, in batches if necessary to avoid crowding, and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes on each side.
• Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5-7 minutes longer, turning once or twice. Test the meat for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer away from the bone or by cutting into the meat close to the bone.
• Remove from heat just before the meat is done, when the internal temperature is 145 degrees F (63 C). Pork loin is done when the internal temperature is 150F/65C, but it will continue to cook while resting).
• Transfer to a platter and let rest, tented loosely with aluminum foil, while you prepare the pan sauce.
• To make the pan sauce, add the cider to the same pan and deglaze by scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
• Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium and whisk in the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and Tabasco.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes longer, whisking often.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Transfer the chops to individual plates. Spoon some of the sauce over the chops and serve. Pass additional sauce at the table.