Just like any food blogger that has been doing this for several years, I find inspiration and motivation for new recipes ebbs and flows. I love it when it flows, no surprise there but when life gets crazy the brain cramping definitely increases. When the imagination is sparking I make lists but sometimes ideas show themselves when you aren’t paying attention.
I was in the queue waiting to pay for my weekly food shop and I spied a magazine with a pork dish on the cover. The title for it said Cider Sage Pork. If the magazine wasn’t $10 then it would have left the rack and been perused. But it stayed. I figured I could come up with my own recipe and keep the $10!
We’re lucky that our co-op carries delicious sweet apples like gala or pink lady. First thing is to prepare the marinade so the pork loin can marinate for several hours. If you don’t have the time, try to marinate for at least an hour. Give the pork a chance to take on the lovely flavours. The cider I used was apple cranberry as there was a special on and I’d thought it would be fun to add the tang of cranberry to this dish. But obviously regular cider works. I should also note, the cider is non-acoholic, not the hard cider.
When it is time to cook dinner, finely chop the apple, onion, garlic and sage. Set aside. Pre-heat the oven to 350F/175C. In a skillet, heat up the olive oil and brown all sides of the pork loin.
Finish off the pork in the oven while making the sauce. Add the onion, garlic and apple to the skillet. Cook for several minutes until the onion starts to become translucent.
Add the remaining marinade and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and add the mustard, sage and thyme. Season with sea salt and pepper.
Simmer the sauce to reduce by a third. When the pork is cooked, remove from the oven and let is rest for 8-10 minutes.
To serve, slice the pork loin and top with the sauce. To keep the dish light we had roasted potatoes and corn as sides.
I was very happy to find this inspiration while patiently waiting in a queue. I’m definitely keeping my eyes open!
Cider Sage Pork
A flavourful pork loin with apple cider, onion, and sage.
Ingredients
- 1 pork loin (about a pound/16oz
Marinade
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup apple cranberry cider 4oz
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 2 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil (used to brown the pork)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion
- 1 apple, chopped
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken stock 4oz
- marinade used for the pork
- 2 tbsp brown mustard
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1-2 tsp fresh sage, chopped
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinade
-
Mix the ingredients together and marinate the pork for several hours in the fridge. If you are pressed for time, marinate for at least an hour.
Pork Loin
-
Preheat the oven to 350F/175C. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and brown all sides of the pork and finish cooking in the oven. Once cooked, rest for 8-10 minutes before slicing.
Sauce
-
In the skillet with the olive oil used to cook the pork, add the onion, garlic and apple over medium heat. Cook until the onion starts to become translucent. Add the marinade and chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add the sage, thyme and mustard. Season with sea salt and pepper. Simmer until the sauce reduces by a third.
Serving
-
Slice the pork and top with the sauce.
