Skillet Pork Medallions with Poblano-Apple Cabbage Braise
This quick skillet-and-braise dinner takes a budget-friendly pork loin and gives it a bold, cozy treatment with poblano, onion, cabbage, and apples. It lands somewhere between rustic American and mild Northern Spanish comfort food—savory, sweet, and weeknight practical.
Back to full listIngredients
- Kroger Fresh Natural Pork Loin Boneless 1 lb $2.99/lb sale
- Fresh Poblano Peppers 1/2 lb or 1-2 peppers $3.99/lb
- Kroger Yellow Onion 3 lb Bag 1 medium onion $3.49 bag sale
- Green Cabbage 3/4 lb $1.49/lb
- Gala Apple 1 apple $0.99 each or bag option
- Simple Truth Organic Low Sodium Free Range Chicken Broth 1 cup $1.79 sale
- Garlic 2 cloves $1.50 each
- Parsley 1 tablespoon chopped, optional $1.69 each
- Olive oil 2 tablespoons pantry
- Salt to taste pantry
- Black pepper to taste pantry
- Smoked paprika or paprika 1 teaspoon, optional pantry
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients. Slice 1 pound sale pork loin at $2.99 per pound into 6 to 8 medallions. Slice 1 medium onion from the $3.49 sale onion bag, slice 1/2 pound poblano peppers from the $3.99 per pound peppers, shred 3/4 pound green cabbage from the $1.49 per pound cabbage, dice 1 apple, and mince 2 garlic cloves from the $1.50 garlic.
- Season the 1 pound pork loin medallions with 3/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon smoked paprika if using.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the 1 pound pork loin medallions for 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned but not fully cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Cook the sliced 1 medium onion and 1/2 pound poblano peppers for 4 to 5 minutes until softened. Add the minced 2 garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds.
- Add the shredded 3/4 pound green cabbage and diced 1 apple. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then cook 4 minutes, stirring, until the cabbage starts to wilt.
- Pour in 1 cup Simple Truth low sodium chicken broth at $1.79 sale and scrape up the browned bits. Return the seared 1 pound pork medallions and any juices to the pan, nestling them into the cabbage mixture.
- Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes until the 1 pound pork loin is cooked through and the cabbage is tender but not mushy. Uncover for 1 to 2 minutes if you want the broth slightly reduced.
- Taste the braised cabbage, poblano, and apple mixture and adjust with salt and pepper. Finish with 1 tablespoon chopped parsley from the $1.69 bunch if using. Serve the pork medallions over the cabbage braise.
Cook time: 45 minutes
Estimated cost: $13-17
Health notes: About 500-600 calories per serving. Lean pork loin keeps saturated fat lower than many pork cuts, while cabbage, apple, and poblano add fiber and vitamin C. Use just enough oil to sear and let the braising liquid do the work.
Drink pairing: Pinot Noir is a natural fit with pork, apples, and sweet peppers. For a white option, dry Riesling brings enough acidity to lift the braised cabbage and rich pork.