Vanilla Cider Pork With Pears Recipes

VANILLA CIDER PORK WITH PEARS RECIPE - (5/5)

Steps:

• I like to cut my medallions in 2-inch thickness, cover it with plastic and flatten them with a mallet (or a very heavy skillet). Season the flour with salt & pepper and whisk together. Dredge the pork in the flour. Set aside. In a large skillet (not nonstick), melt butter over medium-high heat. Add pears and sauté until lightly browned on all sides; remove from pan. Add a little bit of olive oil (1 to 2 tablespoons) to the pan and heat to medium high. Add pork medallions to the same pan, sautéing for 2 to 3 minutes on each side; turn over when golden brown and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more; remove from pan. Deglaze the pan by adding the white wine, on a medium high heat (or use broth instead of wine). Add cider and cream; add to the pan and bring to a boil, then add vanilla pod and seeds. You can also use vanilla paste instead, which is more cost effective. Boil the sauce until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Return pears and pork to the pan (pork on the bottom) along with any accumulated juices. Boil until thicker, about 4 to 6 minutes. (The sauce will also thicken a bit when it's removed from the heat.) Season with salt and pepper before serving.

PORK CHOPS WITH PEARS AND CIDER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and onions with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, 3 whole garlic cloves, and the leaves from a sprig of rosemary. Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 20 to 30 minutes, or until potatoes are light brown and tender when pierced with a fork.
• While the potatoes and onions are in the oven, thinly slice the remaining 3 cloves of garlic. Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, sliced garlic, and 4 rosemary sprigs over medium heat in a large cast iron skillet or other heavy-bottomed frying pan. Saute until the garlic is lightly golden and the olive oil is infused with flavors of garlic and rosemary. Remove the garlic slices and set aside. Discard the rosemary.
• Season the pork chops with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Return the skillet to the stove and heat the infused oil in pan over high heat. Arrange the chops in the pan and sear until nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the chops and brown on the second side, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Add the pears to the pan, lower the heat, and continue cooking until pears become tender and lightly brown and the chops cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove the chops and pears from the pan and pour all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan.
• Pour the cider in the pan and reduce by half over medium high heat, continuously scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits. Add the stock and reduce by half again. Add the butter, stirring until melted, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Return the pears to the pan.
• To serve, place a chop on each of four plates, next to some roasted potatoes and onions. Spoon the pan sauce and several wedges of pear over each chop. Garnish with fresh rosemary leaves if desired.