PORK CHOPS WITH APPLE, FENNEL AND SAGE

PORK CHOPS WITH APPLE, FENNEL AND SAGE image

Yield 4 people

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 boneless, thin-cut pork chops (1 1/2 pounds)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 leek, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
1 fennel bulb-halved lengthwise, cored and thinly sliced crosswise
1 Fuji apple-halved lengthwise, cored and thinly sliced
8 small sage leaves, coarsely chopped
1 cup hard cider

Steps:

Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. In a very large skillet, heat the olive oil until almost smoking. Cook the pork chops over high heat, turning once, until browned around the edges and just cooked through, about 3 minutes total. Transfer the pork chops to a plate and keep warm. In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add the leek and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the fennel and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the sage and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper, transfer to a platter and keep warm. Pour the hard cider and any accumulated pork juices into the skillet and boil over high heat until thickened, about 4 minutes. Set the pork on top of the fennel and apples, pour the sauce over the pork and serve at once.