Little pig with lemon and apples

Delicious Recipe for Lemon and Apple Pork

Preparation: 20 minutes
Marinating: 4 hours
Baking: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours and 40 minutes
Servings: 6

Recipe History
This lemon and apple pork recipe is a perfect combination of flavors that reflects rich culinary traditions, where fruits and meat blend harmoniously. The use of lemon adds a note of freshness, while the apples complement the dish with their natural sweetness. This recipe is not only a feast for the taste buds but also a way to honor the animal that contributed to our meal. Let's get started!

Ingredients
- 1.2 kg pork (choose a lean cut, such as the thigh or shoulder)
- 4 lemons (for an intense citrus flavor)
- 10 apples (preferably sweet-tart varieties, such as Granny Smith or Royal Gala)
- 50 ml olive oil (for rich flavor and creaminess)
- 250 ml dry white wine (enriches the marinade and helps tenderize the meat)
- Salt (to taste)
- White pepper (for a subtle seasoning note)

Marinade Preparation
1. Start by cutting the pork into thick slices of about 1 cm. This will allow the marinade to penetrate well into the meat, ensuring it will be tender and full of flavor.

2. Squeeze the 4 lemons and keep the juice. Mix it with the white wine, pepper, and 4 grated apples (including their skins) in a large bowl. Add salt to taste.

3. Place the slices of meat in the marinade and ensure they are well covered. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator for 4 hours. It is essential to let the meat absorb all the flavors, so don't skip this step!

Cooking the Apples
1. Once the meat has marinated, prepare the apples for cooking. Cut the remaining 6 apples in half, remove the seeds, and cut each half into 4. These will add sweetness and texture to the final dish.

2. Place the cut apples in a pot with 80 ml of water and the remaining juice from the previously used lemons. Cover the pot and let them cook on low heat for 15 minutes, until they soften.

Baking the Pork
1. Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius. This temperature will help the meat brown nicely and become crispy.

2. Grease a baking tray with the 50 ml of olive oil. Arrange the pieces of meat in the tray, aligning them neatly. Pour the marinade over the top to ensure an intense flavor.

3. Place the tray in the oven and bake the dish for 1 hour and 20 minutes. It is important to turn the pieces of meat 2-3 times during baking for even browning.

Serving the Dish
After the meat has been baked, remove the tray from the oven and let the dish rest for a few minutes. This will help the juices stabilize, giving you juicy and flavorful meat. Serve the pork alongside the cooked apples and, for an extra touch of flavor, add a simple mashed potato with butter.

Serving Suggestion
To create a truly special meal, you can accompany this dish with a fresh green salad and a dry white wine, which will perfectly complement the intense flavors of the meat and apples.

Nutritional Benefits
Pork is an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, and minerals such as zinc and iron. Apples provide fiber, antioxidants, and essential vitamins, contributing to a balanced diet. This dish is not only delicious but also healthy!

Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use other types of meat? Of course! This recipe can also be adapted for chicken or turkey, but the cooking time will change.
- What other spices can I add? Oregano or rosemary are excellent for adding a Mediterranean note.
- How can I make the recipe faster? If you're short on time, you can skip the marinating step, but the meat won't be as tender.

Possible Variations
For an exotic touch, you can try adding some spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the cooked apples. You can also experiment with different types of wine or even cider to change the flavor profile of the dish.

This is a wonderful dish for a family dinner or to impress guests. I encourage you to try this lemon and apple pork recipe and enjoy its unique flavors! Bon appétit!