Recipe

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onion and Apple Confit

Your Best Pork with Cider Contest Runner-up!

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onion and Apple Confit

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by Sarah Shatz

Cider-Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onion and Apple Confit

Photo 2 of 2
by TasteFood

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Pork with Cider
    This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Roasted Pork Shoulder
  • A&M's Testing Notes: What this pork dish lacks in beauty it makes up for generously in flavor. You braise succulent pork shoulder in a thick stew of onions, apples, cider and Calvados. All it takes is a little...

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  • Chef

    TasteFood's Notes: This is a perfect autumnal dinner. Cider, caramelized onions and apples combine with pork for a rich, sweet and comforting one pot meal. Calvados brandy and Dijon mustard add extra depth...

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Serves 4

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

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  2. Pat the pork dry and season with salt and pepper.

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  3. Heat oil in a large oven-proof pot or Dutch oven with a lid. Brown pork on all sides, turning with tongs, 6-8 minutes per side. Transfer pork to plate.

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  4. Pour off excess fat from pot. Add onion and 1 teaspoon salt. Sauté over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft ad deep golden brown, 18-20 minutes.

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  5. Add Calvados and stir to deglaze pan. Add apple, garlic and thyme. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds.

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  6. Return pork to pot, nestling it down in the onions. Add cider and chicken stock. Cover pot and place in oven. Reduce heat to 325 F. Braise until meat is very tender, 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

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  7. Return pot to cooktop. Transfer pork to a cutting board and remove kitchen strings. Boil onion and apples until thickened and liquid slightly reduced, 1-2 minutes. Stir in mustard. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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  8. Cut pork in serving pieces and arrange on serving platter or individual dinner plates. Spoon onion apple confit over and around the meat.

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Reply

Made this tonight. What a terrificly easy way to cook down some pork shoulder.

Reply

Made this for supper tonight - turned out amazingly!
I was so pleasantly surprised at just how tender the pork shoulder became. And the confit was the bomb.
All in all, a hit. My husband was so pleased.
I should have bought a bigger bottle of brandy.

Reply

Okay, I have 4 friends coming over for dinner tomorrow night and they've asked me to cook. It's going to be a beautiful Fall weekend, and unfortunately I don't have time to Brine anything - but luckily I found this recipe and I'm going for it. Will serve a side of SallyCan's Cauliflower and Parsnip Puree with Calvados Shallots.

Question: Think it's overkill with the Calvados in both recipes?

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Your recipe looks superb -

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only Reply

I made this over the weekend. It's divine! My onions must have been unusually juicy because my "confit" was like soup .. . . I should have removed the vegetables before reducing the sauce, as turning the heat up on the onions and apples just released more juice. It was, however, delicious. And so, so easy. Love it!! ;o)

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only Reply

I'm making this for Mr. T. for his birthday this weekend . . . with the divine turnip and potato concoction posted by Maria Teresa Jorge this morning . . . and some roasted Brussels sprouts using Tad's method. I simply cannot wait to try this recipe. And yes, with either Mr. T's Pecan Pie (my recipe, posted right after Christmas) or Feeding the Saints' Chocolate Walnut Fig Cake with Grappa and Cardamom Cream (with pecans substituted) submitted for the last contest, it will, indeed be a Food52-only menu for the event!

Green_apple_card Reply

what a feast! we'll have to do something similar at our potluck :)

Kabul1 Reply

just made this - everyone raved. excellent recipe!

Green_apple_card Reply

Thank you - I'm glad you liked it!

Green_apple_card Reply

Thank you, everyone, for your comments!

Img_1045_2 Reply

I made this yesterday in the slow cooker, after first searing the meat and caramelizing the onions and apples. It cooked on Low for four hours, then I held it overnight, skimmed the fat, and reheated for dinner this evening. It's a wonderful recipe - heady smells in the kitchen all day And it holds up beautifully to reheating, with the flavors deepening overnight.

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only Reply

What a great idea, to use the slow cooker. This one has been calling out to me. I'm making it the first night that both of my boys are home from school!! Thanks, Mrs W, for the info on make-ahead success. Some things do well when made in advance; others don't. It's so helpful to have the benefit of your experience.

Reply

made this last weekend, roasted the pork shoulder on its own with some cider in the pan at 450 for 45 minutes to crisp the skin, then added everything else and turned it down to 325.

delicious

Dsc_0003 Reply

Yum - this is very similar to the recipe I was going to submit too but just did not get my act together! Am glad to see a version of it as a finalist!

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