Pork Loin With Apples and Prunes

Impressive and Delicious Fall Recipe

From the kitchen of Emeril Lagasse

Servings:4-6

Difficulty: Moderate

Cook Time: 30-60 min

This impressive pork roast is a great dish for the fall, when apples are in season at your local farmer's market and you can purchase fresh apple cider. Cozy up to a nice bottle of wine and you're there.

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried prunes

1 1/4 cups fresh apple cider

One 2 1/2-pound boneless pork loin

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 small onions, cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges

2 Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch-wide wedges

2 cloves garlic, sliced

1/4 cup chicken stock or canned, low-sodium chicken broth

4 fresh thyme sprigs

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Cooking Directions

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the prunes in a small bowl, add 1/4 cup of the apple cider, and set aside to soak while you proceed with the recipe.

Season the pork loin with 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and 3/4 teaspoon of the black pepper. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. When it is hot, add the pork loin and cook until

browned on all sides, 8 minutes. Remove the pork from the pan and transfer it to a baking sheet or

platter.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions, apples, and garlic to the Dutch oven. Cook, stirring

occasionally, until caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add the soaked prunes (with any remaining juices) and

cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 cup apple cider and the chicken stock, and

bring to a boil.

Return the pork loin to the pot, add the thyme sprigs, and bring to a simmer. Cover, and transfer

the pot to the oven. Cook, undisturbed, until the pork registers 145°F on an instant-read thermometer,

about 30 minutes.

Remove the pot from the oven and transfer the pork to a platter. Tent it with aluminum foil to keep

warm.

Place the Dutch oven over medium-high heat and bring the onion-apple mixture to a boil. Cook until

slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Add the vinegar, remaining 1/2

teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and stir to combine. While stirring, add the butter, little by little, until it is completely incorporated. Do not allow the sauce to boil or it will separate. Remove from the heat.

To serve, spoon some of the sauce onto a serving platter. Slice the pork into thin slices, and arrange

them over the sauce. Spoon more sauce over the pork slices, and serve immediately.

Food styled by Karen Pickus