Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut, bone-in pork chops, approximately 12-oz each
- Favorite Spice Rub for Pork Chops
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
- 2-4 cups apple cider
Serve with:
- Agrodolce
- Wild rice (cook approximately 1 cup dry rice according to package instructions for 4 servings)
- Roasted Vegetables
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 450 degrees and place a baking dish, roasting pan, or rimmed baking sheet next to your cooktop.
- Rub both sides of the pork chops with a generous amount of the spice rub.
- Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat until the oil is shimmering.
- Sear each pork chop in the hot oil to brown, cooking it for 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove the browned pork chop to the roasting pan or baking sheet. Unless you have a very large skillet, you'll probably need to do this in batches - 2 chops at a time. If the oil starts to smoke, remove the pan from the heat for a minute or two to cool down slightly before placing back on the heat and proceeding to brown the chops.
- Pour enough apple cider into the pan with the pork chops so that the cider comes 1/2 to 1-inch up the sides of the pan.
- Put the pan in the oven and roast for 15-25 minutes, turning the chops over halfway through baking. Cook until an instant read thermometer registers 140 - 145 degrees. You can also cut into one of the chops to check for doneness. Cut into a pice close to the bone and observe whether the juices run clear. If they do, the chop is done.
- Remove the chops from the oven, cover with a sheet of aluminum foil and let sit while you make the apple cider glaze.
- Pour all the liquid from the roasting pan into a large saucepan. (The juice might boil up initially, so be sure to use a large pan.) Place the pan over medium high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Continue to cook, stirring every now and then, until the juice is reduced to a thick syrup. Towards the end of cooking, stir frequently and watch carefully to prevent burning. This should take 15-30 minutes depending on how much liquid you start with.
- Serve the chops over wild rice, topped with a drizzle of apple cider glaze and a spoonful or two of agrodolce.
- Category: Pork