Braised Pork Chops with Onion and Mustard Sauce

I found this recipe in "The Onion Lover's Cookbook." It's a different and special twist on the ordinary pork chop. The kind and amount of whole grain mustard will set the spiciness of this dish, but can be mellow enough to enjoy as a wonderful comfort food. This isn't a "quick fix" recipe, but it is well worth the time it takes.

Ingredients:

4 pork loins (3/4 inch thick)

30 ml/2 Tbsp flour

45 ml/3 Tbsp olive oil

2 Spanish onions (or yellow onions), thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

250 ml/1 cup dry cider*

150 ml/2/3 cup vegetable, chicken or pork stock

generous pinch of brown sugar

2 fresh sprigs of bay leaf (I used dried ones)

6 fresh sprigs of thyme

2 strips lemon rind

120 ml/1/2 cup double cream (heavy whipping cream)

30-45 ml/2-3 Tbsp whole grain mustard

30 ml/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 F/200 C.

Trim excess fat off chops. Season flour with salt and pepper and use to coat the pork chops (save flour mixture). Heat 30 ml (2 Tbsp) olive oil in a fry pan. Brown both sides, then transfer to an ovenproof dish.

Add remaining oil (15 ml or 1 Tbsp) to pan and cook onions over gentle heat until soft and slightly brown at the edges. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Stir in any left over flour.

Gradually add cider and stock.

Season well with salt and pepper. Add brown sugar, bay leaves, thyme sprigs and lemon rind.

Bring sauce to a boil, stirring constantly, then pan over the chops.

Cover and cook in the oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350F / 180 C and continue to cook for 30-40 minutes. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Remove chops from dish and keep warm, covered in foil.

Tip the remaining contents of the dish into a sauce pan. Discard the herbs and lemon rind. Bring to a boil. Add cream and continue to boil stirring constantly. Taste for seasoning, adding a pinch more sugar if necessary. Finally stir in mustard to taste.

Pour sauce over the braised chops and sprinkle chops with parsley. Serve immediately.

***Note: Dry cider is an alcoholic beverage that is popular in Britian and Ireland. If you are not able to find this in it's alcoholic form, it is possible to use American apple cider, but it may make it a little sweet so you probably won't want to add the brown sugar.