Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder
Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder features succulent pork simmered low and slow with onions, sage, and hard cider until fork-tender, then finished with crème fraîche for a silky, lightly tangy sauce. The balance of apple brightness, herbal warmth, and gentle heat makes it special. Serve for a cozy weekend dinner or an autumn gathering with mashed potatoes or crusty bread.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook2 hrs 15 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 27 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 2 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 12
- Heart Health
- 58
- Metabolic
- 27
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 42
- Performance
- 36
- General Wellness
- 1
Generously salt all sides of the pork shoulder chunks. Heat oil in a heavy pot over high heat. Brown the pork shoulder pieces until well seared and crusty, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the browned pork to a plate. Add the onions to the oil, reduce heat to medium, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add the torn sage leaves and cook, stirring often, until the onions soften and start to brown. Pour the cider into the pot and stir to deglaze the bottom. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir in the cider vinegar. Reduce the heat to low.
- 2
Return the pork shoulder pieces to the cider mixture. Cover and simmer gently on low for 1 hour. Remove the lid and turn the pieces over. Cover again and simmer on low until the meat is fork-tender, 1 to 2 more hours. Transfer the pork to a bowl with a slotted spoon.
- 3
Increase heat to high and bring the sauce to a simmer. Whisk in the creme fraiche. Simmer until the liquid reduces by half and is slightly thickened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in a pinch of cayenne. Return the pork to the pot and reduce the heat to low. Baste the pork with the sauce as it heats through and becomes perfectly tender, and the sauce reaches your preferred thickness, about 15 more minutes.
- Calories 801.19 kcal High 40%
- Protein 42.76 g Good Source 86%
- Carbohydrate 53.28 g 19%
- Total Fat 38.65 g High 50%
- Saturated Fat 15.56 g High 78%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 132.69 mg High 44%
- Sodium 702.42 mg High 31%
- Dietary Fiber 3.24 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 42.38 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 171.71 mg Moderate 13%
- Iron 4.85 mg Good Source 27%
- Potassium 244.28 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 20.35 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 23.84 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Apple Cider Braised Pork Shoulder is made with 10 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 2 hrs 25 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Apple Cider Vinegar, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Crème Fraîche. Each serving provides about 801.19 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder made of?
- The main ingredients are Apple Cider Vinegar, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Crème Fraîche, Fresh Chives. The full list of 10 is above.
- How long does it take to make Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder?
- About 2 hrs 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 801.19 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 10 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Is Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder healthy?
- Apple-Cider Braised Pork Shoulder has an easyChef Pro health score of 35/100. Per serving, it provides 801.19 calories and 42.76 g of protein, or 86% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 702.42 mg (31% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 15.56 g (78% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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