Cider, apples, yams, and pork chops. What could better express Autumn in the form of a meal? With a daily collection of apple drops from our trees in the orchard we have been having them in many ways each day: homemade cider, spicy apple butter on crispy warm toast, and tangy applesauce as an accompaniment to most anything, but tonight they made their appearance for the first time in a main meal, and what a successful debut this was! One would hardly expect something so simple to be so successful in pleasing so many.
The yams and apples were simply quartered and roasted on a sheet pan while the chops were seared and simmered in cider — which was reduced to a surprisingly flavorful sauce, tying everything into a perfect expression of the Fall season.
SERVINGS4peopleCHANGE SERVING SIZEpeople |
COOK TIME42 minutes |
PREP TIME20minutes |
READY IN1hour |
Ingredients
- 1 lb. yams peeled, halved lengthwise & cut crosswise into 2 in. slices
- 2 apple(s) each cut into 8 wedges
- 2 (6 in.) rosemary sprigs, cut into 1in. pieces
- 1/4 cup olive oil divided
- 2 tsp. kosher salt divided
- 3/4 tsp. black pepper divided
- 4 (1 in. thick) boneless pork chops
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450º Fahrenheit. Mix yams, apples, rosemary, 2 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Spread yam mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until potatoes are browned and tender, about 25 minutes, turning halfway through baking time.
- Season pork with 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet on medium-high. Add pork, and cook until golden brown and center is barely pink, about 5 minutes per side. Place 1 chop each on 4 individual dinner plates, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium, and add cider. Bring to a simmer, stirring to loosen browned bits from skillet. Whisk in mustard, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and whisk in butter until melted and incorporated. Sprinkle with remaining salt and pepper. Drizzle sauce over chops. Divide yam mixture among plates, and serve immediately.
