Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Apple cider and pork? Get it in my stomach! This Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is an autumn dream. The pork is first seared till good and crispy, then braised within the oven in apple cider. It’s oh-so-tender and stuffed with fall taste!

Ooof, what a hunk of meat! I can’t wait to serve this braised pork shoulder at my cabin for the fam. Not solely will it get devoured up immediately, however it’s additionally SO simple to organize and could be made forward of time. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it sort of pork roast — good for a cabin weekend.

Simply season the pork shoulder after which sear it. Add the pork, potatoes, apples, and apple cider right into a Dutch oven and bake till the pork is lusciously fork tender. Yumz.

The Fundamental Fixings for Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

• Pork shoulder: Nothing goes higher with apples than pork! The fats within the pork shoulder retains it good and moist whereas cooking, making it the proper lower for braising.
• Pork seasoning: You may make your personal pork rub or use your favourite store-bought mix. A easy mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika will do the trick.
• Apple cider: The star of the present! Use pure apple cider for the most effective taste.
• Worcestershire sauce: This provides a depth of taste and balances out the sweetness of the apple cider.
• Honeycrisp apple: Thinly sliced and added to the braising liquid, these apples will infuse their scrumptious taste into the pork.
• Child crimson potatoes: These little taters maintain their form properly throughout cooking and absorb all of the flavors of the dish.
• Recent herbs: Recent rosemary and thyme add a aromatic and earthy ingredient to the dish.
• Dutch oven: You’ll want a heavy, oven-safe pot for braising the pork.

We extremely suggest utilizing apple cider as an alternative of apple juice on this recipe. Apple cider has a richer, extra concentrated taste that may give your braised pork shoulder a deeper, extra complicated style. When you should use apple juice, we recommend including a splash of apple cider vinegar to the liquid for added depth.

After all! Honeycrisp apples are our prime decide for this recipe due to their sweet-tart taste and agency texture that holds up properly throughout cooking. Nevertheless, you need to use any sort of apple you like or have available. Simply understand that the flavour and texture could range barely.

Methods to Make a Scrumptious Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder

Cooking up a whole pork shoulder could seem intimidating, however belief me, it’s simpler than you suppose! Observe these easy steps, and also you’ll have a mouthwatering dish very quickly.

1. Season Pork: Therapeutic massage the pork shoulder with kosher salt and pork seasoning, coating it fully with spices. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at the least two hours. 
2. Sear: Subsequent, preheat the oven to 325ºF. Warmth oil in a big Dutch oven over excessive warmth. Sear both sides of the pork shoulder for 2-3 minutes or till browned. Take away it from the pot as soon as all sides have been browned. 
3. Make Sauce: Deglaze the pot with ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and scrape the brown bits from the underside. Add the remainder of the apple cider, Worcestershire, onion, and garlic to the pot and whisk to mix. Add the potatoes and apples and toss to coat. 
4. Bake: Nestle the pork shoulder in between the entire greens and add the recent herbs. Cowl and bake for 3-3.5 hours, basting the pork with the apple cider each hour or so. 
5. Relaxation & Serve: When the pork reaches 200ºF or is well shreddable with a fork, take away it from the oven. Let the meat relaxation for 10 minutes. As soon as rested, take away the herb stems from the pot and shred the pork. Serve with accompanied greens and any remaining apple cider sauce. Get pleasure from!

Pork is suitable for eating as soon as it reaches an inside temperature of 145ºF (USDA), however as a result of we’re cooking low and gradual, the objective is to get it to succeed in 200ºF in order that the meat can tenderize and break all the way down to be simpler to shred.

Basting is a crucial step on this recipe as a result of it helps hold the pork moist and flavorful. The apple cider not solely provides taste to the dish but additionally helps hold the pork from drying out because it cooks.

This dish makes for excellent leftovers! Retailer any remaining pork shoulder in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days.

To reheat, merely warmth it up on the range or within the microwave till warmed via.

What to Serve with This Apple Cider Pork Roast

We’ve obtained the pork, we’ve obtained the potatoes, so what else would style delish with this apple cider pork shoulder? Listed below are just a few concepts to get you began: