Description
Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is a savory and tender dish where pork shoulder is braised in a flavorful mixture of apple cider, chicken broth, and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 to 5 pounds pork shoulder roast or Boston butt roast
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 2 cups fresh apple cider
- 2 cups chicken stock or broth
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon dehydrated minced onion
- 1 head garlic, top sliced off opposite the root end
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 red onion, cut into thick slices
- 2 firm, tart apples, peeled and cut into wedges
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Trim pork shoulder of excess fat if needed. If boneless, cut into four large pieces, or leave whole if bone-in.
- Pat pork dry with paper towels and season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper on all sides.
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear pork pieces for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deeply browned, working in batches if necessary.
- While searing pork, whisk together apple cider, chicken stock, Dijon mustard, and dehydrated minced onion in a bowl. Tie rosemary and thyme sprigs into a bundle with kitchen twine.
- Once pork is browned, pour braising liquid into Dutch oven. Nestle herb bundle and garlic head among the pork. Cover and transfer to oven.
- Braise for approximately 3 hours, flipping pork halfway through. For boneless cuts, begin checking tenderness at 2 1/2 hours. Meat should be nearly fork-tender.
- Remove Dutch oven from oven. Arrange onion slices and apple wedges around pork. Cover and return to oven to cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes until pork is very tender.
- Remove Dutch oven from oven and let pork rest in the braising liquid for 30 minutes. Squeeze roasted garlic cloves from husk into broth or over pork. Adjust seasoning of braising liquid with salt and pepper to taste. Serve pork with onions, apples, and juices spooned over the top.
Notes
- For a sweeter flavor, choose sweeter apples like Fuji or Gala.
- Make sure the pork is well-seasoned for best flavor.
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 48g
- Cholesterol: 120mg