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Slow Learner

When it comes to my slow cooker I have been a slow learner. Last week I did an experiment and found it was worth the time (and extra mess) to brown the meat before cooking. This weekend while shopping for five things from Costco (and returning with about twice that) I saw boneless pork chops were on sale. With an additional $2.50 off the final cost. $8.00 for five lbs of pork chops was hard to pass up, so I got out my slow cooker. 

I went with a pretty traditional combination of pork, apples and sauerkraut. Browning both the meat and onions added flavor, and let me make a pan sauce that could go over everything in the cooker. I wanted to use ingredients I had around the house, things that you probably have as well. The flavors are those you’d find in a traditional autumn pork dish, a little sweet, a little sour and a little salty.

I made some kasha to accompany this dish. Kasha (if you haven’t had it) is buckwheat groats. The flavor is earthy and hard to describe,if you’ve had soba noodles or buckwheat pancakes you know the taste. It complemented the pork perfectly. Egg noddles or mashed potatoes would be fine too, but if you haven’t tried kasha, this would be a great moment. This is a great dish for a cool night. I’m sure if I keep working at it, even if I’m a slow learner, I’ll eventually master my slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Pork with Apples and Sauerkraut

Slow Cooker Pork with Apples and Sauerkraut
Serves 4
Prep time 30 minutes
Cook time 3 hours
Total time 3 hours, 30 minutes
Meal type Main Dish

Ingredients

  • 4 Large boneless pork chops
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 2 apples (peeled and sliced)
  • 2lb sauerkraut (drained)
  • 3/4 cups dry white wine
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 Large sweet onion (peeled and sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Step 1
Season flour with salt and pepper
Dust each pork chop with flour, set aside, and reserve remaining flour
Step 2
Heat enough oil in a large saute pan to cover the bottom, over medium high heat
When oil is hot lay pork chops in pan, and set aside on a plate
Brown on each side, remove chops from pan, and lower heat to medium
Step 3
Mix together wine, soy sauce and molasses
Add onions to pan and stir often until they start to brown around the edges, stir in garlic
Step 4
When onions are starting to brown add 1/4 cup of flour to pan, and stir to coat, and let flour cook in pan a minute or two
Add liquid, and stir well until sauce starts to thicken, then remove from heat
Step 5
Put sauerkraut, apples,onions and sauce into slow cooker
Lay chops on top
Cover and cook on high for 3 hours, or low for 5-6 hours until pork is tender

 

 

 

 

 

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  • October 10, 2016 - 3:59 pm

    Peggy Gilbey McMackin - I’ve never cooked pork chops in my slow cooker but it sound and looks mighty good! Alongside the kasha is nice too. Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

    • October 11, 2016 - 11:51 am

      nrlowell@comcast.net - I am just winging it Peggy!ReplyCancel

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