#COOKING WITH CLORIS--INSTANT POT PORK CHOPS AND CARROTS WITH APPLE GRAVY

What could be better on a cold winter night than some stick-to-your-ribs pork chops? This recipe pairs with carrots and a thick apple gravy and goes well with egg noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes. Best of all, from start to finish takes less than an hour thanks to the Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Pork Chops and Carrots with Apple Gravy

serves 4

Ingredients:

4 3/4" thick pork chops

sea salt

1 onion, thinly sliced

6 carrots, peeled and cut in half

4 cooking apples, cored and quartered

1 T olive oil

1/4 cup Plus 1 T water

4 T unsalted butter 

4 T brown sugar

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pinch of salt

2 T flour

Turn on the Instant Pot to Sauté mode, normal heat. When the display reads "Hot" add the oil to the pot.

Season the pork chops with a sprinkling of sea salt on each side. Brown the pork chops, two at a time, on each side for about 4 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.

Add the onion and 1 T water. Cook the onion, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon and scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze. When the onions are translucent and tender, add the butter and stir until melted.

Add the apples and 1/4 cup water. Stir well.

Add the pork chops and any juices on the plate back into the pot, setting them on top of the apples. Add the carrots on top of the pork chops.

Place the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to the sealing position. Cancel the Sauté mode. Press Pressure Cook button and set the cook time for 10 minutes.

While the pork chops are cooking, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.

When the cook cycle ends, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then  turn the steam release knob to manually release the remaining pressure.

When the pin in the lid drops, open the lid. Remove the pork chops and carrots to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

Turn the Sauté mode back on. Add the brown sugar mixture to the apple mixture and stir.

Scoop out 1/2 cup of the hot liquid from the pot and place into a cup. Stir in the flour. Add the mixture to the apple gravy, stirring constantly. When the mixture thickens, turn off the pot. Pour apple gravy over pork chops and carrots before serving.