Apple Rub Recipes

PORK CHOPS WITH TOASTED SPICE RUB AND APPLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season both sides of the pork chops with salt and toasted spice rub.
• Heat the oil in an ovenproof skillet over medium heat and sear the pork chops until golden brown, about 4 minutes on 1side and 1 minute on the other side. Place pork chops on baking sheet. Remove excess oil from skillet.
• Bake the chops until just cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove to a serving platter.
• Over medium heat, add the wine to the skillet, stir, and reduce to 1 to 2 tablespoons; add the apple sauce and bring to a simmer. Spoon over each chop.
• Toasted Spice Rub
• 1/4 cup fennel seeds
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup pure California chili powder
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat. When the fennel begins to turn light brown, add the red pepper flakes, and toss several times. Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
• Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground. If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.
• Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
• Note: If you have an exhaust fan over your stove, turn it on before you start toasting the spices. Be careful not to inhale the fumes once you add the red pepper flakes.
• Yield: 1 cup
• 12 apples, Gravenstein or McIntosh
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, preferably gray salt
• 1/3 cup honey
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Peel the apples with a vegetable peeler, remove the core and cut into 1-inch chunks, place in a large bowl. Heat a large skillet or roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter. When the butter begins to brown, add lemon juice, then add the apples and salt. Cook until the apples just begin to color, about 4 minutes. Stir in the honey. Roast the apples in the oven until soft and lightly caramelized, about 12 minutes. Fork mash for a chunky version or puree in food processor for a smoother sauce.
• Serve warm, room temperature or cold.

HERBED PORK AND APPLES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the sage, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, salt and pepper. Rub over roast. Cover, and refrigerate roast for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place roast in a shallow roasting pan, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Drain fat.
• In a medium bowl, mix apples and onion with brown sugar. Spoon around roast, and continue to cook for 1 hour more, or until the internal temperature of the roast is 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer the roast, apples and onion to a serving platter, and keep warm.
• To make the gravy, skim excess fat from meat juices. Pour drippings into a medium heavy skillet. Stir in apple juice and syrup. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until liquid has been reduced by half, about 1 cup. Slice the roast, and serve with gravy.

QUICK APPLE-GLAZED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Combine the first eight ingredients; rub over both sides of pork chops. Cook in batches on an indoor grill coated with cooking spray until a thermometer inserted in chops reads 145°, 3-4 minutes on each side. Let chops stand for 5 minutes before serving., In a microwave-safe bowl, heat jelly until warmed; brush over pork chops.

APPLE BBQ PORK RIBS

Steps:

• Mix rub ingredients and store in air tight container. Recommend making a triple batch so you'll have some for later.
• Remove membrane from bone side of ribs. Rub ribs generously with rub, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate over night.
• Remove wrap from ribs and bring to room temperature. Re-season with rub.
• Bring grill/smoker up to around 200 degrees F. Using indirect heat, smoke ribs for 5-7 hours. Turn and baste with mop every hour.
• For the finishing sauce, combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for one hour.
• For the smoke, use apple wood chips soaked in water. Keep the temperature as close to 200 as possible.
• Apply finishing sauce during the last hour--careful not to burn. Ribs are done when about 3/8 inch of bones are exposed and the rib bones come loose from the meat when twisted.
• Remove from heat, re-season with rub mixture, and let sit for at least 30 min prior to cutting into 2-rib portions.

APPLE AND BBQ SAUCE BABY BACK RIBS

Steps:

• Mix the barbeque sauce and applesauce in bowl. Place ribs on a large sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil, and rub on all sides with the salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Pour sauce over ribs to coat. Seal ribs in the foil. Marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat grill for high heat.
• Place ribs in foil on the grill grate, and cook 1 hour. Remove ribs from foil, and place directly on the grill grate. Continue cooking 30 minutes, basting frequently with the sauce, until ribs are done.