Pork Chops with Spiced Applesauce

I grew up in the 70's when pork chops and applesauce was all the rage!  Of course, my mother used to buy Mott's Applesauce, probably sweetened with sugar.  Nowadays, you can buy Mott's with no added sugar, and that's a plus, but I recommend buying some apples and making your own, it's so easy and so delicious!  This is a savory applesauce, with onions, and it pairs perfectly with perfectly seasoned bone-in chops!

Enjoy!
Kirsten

PORK CHOPS WITH SPICED APPLESAUCE

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 bone-in pork chops (about 2 pounds total)
3 tablespoons coconut oil, divided
1 onion, sliced
2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup apple cider
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 pinch nutmeg
2 generous handfuls frisee

1)  Preheat the oven to 350F.

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

3)  Heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil 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.

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

5)  While the pork is roasting, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon coconut oil 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.

6)  Transfer the applesauce to a food processor or blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.

7)  Place the frisee on plates.  Top with the pork and serve with the applesauce.

NOTES:

~If you can't find frisee, you can use arugula, baby kale or baby spinach.