Recipe: Smoked Ham Steak or Pork Chops in Apple and Cider Sauce

SMOKED HAM STEAK OR PORK CHOPS
IN APPLE AND CIDER SAUCE

1 (1 1/2 pound) ham steak, trimmed of fat (or four 3/4-inch-thick smoked pork chops (6 to 8 oz. each), trimmed of fat)
2 tbsp. oil
FOR THE APPLE AND CIDER SAUCE:
2 cups apple cider
1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1 cup chopped dried apples
1/2 tsp. ground sage
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a large, heavy, nonstick, or other nonreactive skillet over high heat. Put in the chops or steak and brown for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Remove the meat.

TO MAKE THE APPLE AND CIDER SAUCE:
Add all the sauce ingredients to the skillet except the mustard. Boil rapidly until the liquid is reduced to about 1 3/4 cups. Whisk in the mustard and reduce to a simmer.

Return the chops or ham steak to the pan, cover, and cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes more.

TO SERVE:
Transfer the meat to a platter. If the sauce is too thin, reduce it over high heat until it becomes syrupy. Pour the sauce over the meat and serve.

Servings: 4
Source: The Complete Meat Cookbook by Bruce Aidells and Denis Kelly