Polish Rhubarb-Braised Pork Chop

A Polish-inspired braised pork chop with tangy rhubarb-mustard pan sauce, spring asparagus, dill potatoes, and sweet-tender braised cabbage for a dressed-up but practical dinner for one.

  • Total time: 55 minutes
  • Servings: —
  • Estimated total cost: About $9–$13 for one fancier single-serving dinner, depending on the pork chop weight and how much pantry produce you already have.
  • Calories per serving: —

Ingredients

  • Bone-in pork loin center-cut thick chop
    1 thick chop, about 8 oz $6.29
  • Cabbage
    2 packed cups, thinly sliced
  • Onion
    1/4 small onion, thinly sliced
  • Carrot
    1 small carrot, grated or matchstick-cut
  • Asparagus
    4 oz, woody ends trimmed
  • Private Selection® Petite Gold Gourmet Potatoes
    6 oz, halved $6.00
  • Rhubarb
    1/2 cup diced, about 1 small stalk $3.99
  • Simple Truth Organic® Baby Dill
    1 tablespoon chopped, plus more for garnish $2.79
  • Simple Truth Organic® Low Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth
    3/4 cup, divided $3.29
  • Olive oil
    2 teaspoons, divided
  • Unsalted butter
    2 teaspoons, divided
  • Whole-grain mustard
    1 teaspoon
  • Apple cider vinegar
    2 teaspoons
  • Honey
    1 teaspoon
  • Caraway seeds
    1/2 teaspoon
  • Smoked paprika
    1/4 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
    to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat the pork chop dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika; slice the cabbage and onion, prep the carrot, dice the rhubarb, halve the potatoes, trim the asparagus, and chop the dill.

  2. Put the potatoes in a small saucepan, cover with salted water, bring to a boil, and cook until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes; add the asparagus for the last 2 minutes, then drain and toss with 1 teaspoon butter, half the dill, salt, and pepper.

  3. Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; add the onion, carrot, caraway, and a pinch of salt and cook for 3 minutes, then add the cabbage and cook 4 minutes until slightly wilted.

  4. Add 1/4 cup chicken broth and the apple cider vinegar to the cabbage, cover, and braise over medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes until tender but not mushy; transfer to a plate and keep warm.

  5. Wipe out the skillet, add the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil, and sear the pork chop over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes per side until browned.

  6. Add the rhubarb, remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth, mustard, and honey to the skillet; bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to low, and braise 15 to 20 minutes until the pork reaches 145°F in the thickest part.

  7. Transfer the pork to a cutting board to rest for 3 minutes; simmer the rhubarb pan sauce uncovered for 2 to 4 minutes until glossy, then swirl in the remaining 1 teaspoon butter and adjust salt and pepper.

  8. Plate the braised cabbage as the base, set the pork chop alongside or on top, spoon over the rhubarb-mustard sauce, and serve with the dill potatoes and asparagus, finishing with extra dill.

Health: About 650 calories for one serving, with roughly 42g protein, moderate complex carbs, and plenty of cabbage, carrot, asparagus, and rhubarb.

Drink pairing: A lightly chilled Pinot Noir works well with the pork and tangy rhubarb without overwhelming the cabbage.