BRAISED PORK WITH CABBAGE AND APPLES

Braised Pork with Cabbage and Apples image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 1h40m

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 1/2 pounds boneless pork loin, tied
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup apple-cider vinegar, plus more for sauce (optional)
1 1/2 cups apple cider
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 head red cabbage (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut through core into 1 1/2-inch-thick wedges
2 small bulbs fennel (about 1 pound total), trimmed and cut through core into 1 1/2-inch-thick wedges
3 small red apples, such as Empire (about 1 pound total), cored and cut into 1-inch-thick wedges
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season pork all over with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, heavy-bottomed ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Add pork and cook until browned on all sides, turning as needed, about 8 minutes total. Remove from pot.
Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil if pan is too dry, along with onion, garlic, caraway seeds, and a splash of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add vinegar and bring to a boil, then add cider and broth and return to a boil. Add cabbage, fennel, and 1 apple. Return to a boil, then reduce to a vigorous simmer, cover, and cook 7 minutes, stirring once.
Add pork, nestling it into vegetables. Transfer to oven and cook, uncovered, 15 minutes. Remove pork and add remaining 2 apples, turning vegetables and pushing apples down into liquid. Return pork to pot and continue cooking until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of pork registers 138 degrees, 20 to 25 minutes more. Remove pork and let rest at least 10 minutes before slicing. If necessary, return vegetables and apples to oven and cook, covered, until fork-tender, 10 to 20 minutes more.
Transfer vegetables and apples to a platter. Slice pork and add to platter. Stir butter into liquid in pot, then season with salt and vinegar. Serve pork and vegetables with sauce on the side.