My slow-braised pork shoulder cooked in dry apple cider with onions, apples and fresh thyme. Falls apart with a fork and tastes better the next day.
Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
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Category
Dinner
Servings
4-6
Prep time
10 minutes
Cook time
4 hours 20 minutes
For this recipe we’re braising what most butchers call a pork butt, even though it’s actually from the shoulder. Pork shoulder is tough and a bit lean as the muscle works hard, which is exactly why it’s perfect for slow cooking. A few hours in the oven with cider, apples and aromatics, and the connective tissue breaks down into gelatine, the meat soaks up moisture, and you end up with juicy pork that falls apart with a fork.
Braised Pork Shoulder Explained
The Braise
Braising means cooking in a small amount of liquid, covered, at a low temperature. It’s different from stewing, which uses enough liquid to fully submerge the meat. The first (and very important) step is to sear the pork on all sides to give it that lovely browning which help impart more flavour. The brown bits left stuck to the bottom of the pot are called the fond, and that’s where a big chunk of the flavour lives. Don’t try to clean the pan, the cider will lift all of that fond up later.
The Apples and Cider
Apples and pork are a classic combination. The sweetness and acidity cut through the richness of the meat. We’re using fresh green apples for sharpness and a dry apple cider for the braising liquid. Make sure the cider is dry, not sweet as there’s already plenty of sweetness coming from the apples and onions. By the end of the cook the apples and onions are basically mush. That’s exactly what you want as they melt into the sauce and turn it silky.
Ingredient Notes
Pork shoulder (pork butt): It’s the upper portion of the front leg of the pig, well-marbled with intramuscular fat and connective tissue. Bone-in is best for a braise as the bone adds depth to the sauce and helps the meat hold its shape during the long cook.
Dry apple cider: Get a dry cider, not a sweet or fruity one. The apples and onions are bringing plenty of sweetness on their own, the cider is there for acidity and apple flavour. If you can’t find apple cider, a dry white wine or a mix of stock and apple juice works.
Fresh thyme and bay leaves: You need fresh thyme and bay leaves for this one as dried thyme goes muddy in a long braise and dried bay loses most of its character.
Equipment
Chopping board
Chef’s knife
Tongs
Large Dutch oven or heavy-based ovenproof pot with lid
Wire rack and tray
Slotted spoon
Large spoon (for skimming fat)
Ingredients
-
1.8 - 2kg (4-4.4 lbs) bone-in pork shoulder (pork butt/Boston pork butt)
-
sea salt and cracked black pepper, to season
-
2 brown onions
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6 cloves garlic
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2 green apples
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2 tbsp olive oil
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4 fresh thyme sprigs
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2 fresh bay leaves
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500ml (2 cups) apple cider (dry)
-
250ml (1 cup) chicken stock
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Polenta or mashed potato and braised cabbage, to serve
Directions
Prep the pork
Preheat the oven to 160°C fan forced (320°F).
Pat the pork dry with paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper all over.
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven (or heavy based deep pan) over high heat. Sear the pork on all sides (starting with the fat cap side first) until deep golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
While the pork is searing, cut the onions into quarters, smash the garlic cloves, and core and quarter the apples.
Once the pork is seared on all sides, remove and set aside on a wire rack over a tray.
Braise the pork
In the same dutch oven, reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Return the pork to the pot. Add the apples, thyme sprigs and bay leaves, then pour in the apple cider and give everything a little jiggle, then add the chicken stock. The liquid should come about halfway up the pork.
Bring the heat back up to high, cover with a lid, and let sit for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to the oven.
After 2 hours, take it out of the oven, turn the pork on it’s side, lid back on and back in the oven.
Braise for another 1.5 - 2 hours, until the meat is completely tender and falling off the bone.
Finish and serve
Remove the pork from the oven and rest for 15 minutes.
Transfer the pork to a serving platter. Skim the fat off the braising liquid and discard the bay leaves and thyme stalks.
Pull the pork apart into chunks and serve with the apples and onions, then drizzle with the braising sauce.
Serve with some polenta and braised cabbage if you like.
Recipe notes
Chef Tips
Turn the pork halfway through
After 2 hours in the oven, take the pot out and rotate the pork onto its side. If you leave it in the same position for the full 4 hours, the bottom sitting in the liquid will overcook while the top dries out. Turning makes sure both halves get equal time in the cider.
Skim the fat before serving
When the pork comes out, there’ll be a glossy layer of fat floating on top of the sauce. Tilt the pot and spoon it off, or use a fat separator if you have one. The braising sauce underneath is where all the flavour is.
Storage
The braised pork keeps in the fridge in its sauce for 4 days and freezes for up to 3 months. The flavour actually gets better the next day as everything settles. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of water or stock to loosen the sauce. Don’t blast it in the microwave or the meat will dry out.
FAQs
Can I make this in a slow cooker? Yes. Sear the pork in a pan as written, then transfer it and everything else to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
Can I use pork loin or fillet instead? No. Loin and fillet are lean cuts that go dry and stringy if you braise them. This recipe relies on the fat and connective tissue in the shoulder breaking down to give you that juicy, fall-apart texture.
What do you serve with it? I like polenta or mashed potato to soak up the sauce, with some braised cabbage on the side. Crusty bread and a green salad works just as well if you want something lighter.
