pork chops with spiced applesauce

Serves 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 bone-in pork chops (about 1 pound total)
• 3 tablespoons cooking fat
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
• ½ cup apple cider
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 2 generous handfuls frisée

Don’t have access to frisée? You can use arugula, baby kale, or baby spinach. This dish can also make a delicious reappearance at breakfast—fry an egg or two and place over the top of the leftover pork, using the applesauce and freshly wilted greens as your side.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Mix the salt and pepper in a small bowl and use to season both sides of the pork chops.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the cooking fat in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the fat is hot, add the pork chops and sear until you see a golden brown crust, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and sear the other side for 2 minutes.

Transfer the pork chops to a baking dish and roast in the oven until the internal temperature reaches 140°F, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness.

While the pork is roasting, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon fat and the onion in the same skillet. Cook over medium heat until the onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the apple, apple cider, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg. Cook (while scraping all the tasty bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon), until the apples soften, about 5 minutes.

Transfer the applesauce to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

Place the frisée on plates. Top with the pork and serve with the applesauce.

✪Bacon Fat If you’re lucky enough to have access to Whole30-compliant bacon, save the fat the next time you cook a batch. You can use it in heartier recipes like this one. See Resources for a list of Whole30 Approved bacon brands (like the sugar-free pork bacon from U.S. Wellness Meats) and sources.