It's apple season with an abundance this year! We are also fortunate to have two island farmers who currently have locally raised pork chops and bacon for purchase. Brian Stahl of Winney Farm and Brian MacWhorter of Butler Green. You can find both farmers at our Bainbridge Island Farmers' Market every Saturday from 10 to 2pm until the end of November.
Enjoy!
Pork Chops with Apples and Bacon
Food and Wine Magazine
By Anna Theoktisto Published on August 19, 2024
This 30-minute, one-pan dinner features tender pork chops bathed in a sweet and smoky bacon-and-apple sauce that’s brightened with mustard and herbs.
Ingredients
- 3 small Fuji apples
- 4 bone-in rib-cut pork chops (about 1 inch thick)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 2 sprigs sage
- 2 large shallots, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Directions
1 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut 2 apples in half; set aside. Cut the remaining apple into thin slices; cover lightly with plastic wrap, and set aside. Season pork chops evenly with pepper and 2 1/4 teaspoons salt. Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet over high until smoking. Cook pork chops, undisturbed, until browned on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer pork chops, browned side up, to a large plate; set aside.
2 - Wipe skillet clean, and add bacon. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until rendered and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, reserving drippings in skillet; set aside.
3 - Return skillet with drippings to medium-high. Add sage and halved apples, cut sides down; cook, undisturbed, until sage is crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer sage to plate with bacon. Add sliced apple and shallots to skillet with halved apples. Cook, stirring often, until shallots are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in flour; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Add apple cider and mustard. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Remove from heat.
4 - Place pork chops, browned side up, in skillet, nestling apple halves between pork chops. Sprinkle with bacon. Transfer skillet to preheated oven; bake until a thermometer inserted into thickest portion of pork registers 140°F, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven; season to taste with salt. Garnish with crisped sage.
This recipe originally appeared in Food & Wine Magazine, September 2024
