Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir-Fry
Stir-fries might be one of the original heroes of easy weeknight dinners. They’ve been delivering one-pan meals of protein and veggies for a long, long time. This amazing cooking technique can cross borders, making dishes such as this tender pork cooked with heaps of shredded green cabbage and sweet apple slices possible with just as much success and ease.
Pork Chops to the Rescue
The keys to flavorful, tender meat in a stir-fry is to thinly slice the meat, marinate it briefly for flavor, and make sure not to overcook it. Boneless pork chops are my preferred cut for stir-fries, as they’re lean and tender, but pork tenderloin would also be a great substitute here. Toss it in a little of the sauce that doubles as a marinade and you’re in business.
Pork and cabbage and natural friends, so just reach for a bag of shredded cabbage in the produce aisle to make the stir-fry come together even quicker. Slices of apple add sweetness and a refreshing crunch. You can serve this stir-fry over rice, egg noodles, or, in a fun nod to this dish’s European pedigree, tender spaetzle.
Pork and Cabbage Stir-Fry
Serves 4
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the marinade and sauce:
- 1/2 cup
low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon
maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon
whole-grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon
Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon
tamari or soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon
cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
For the stir-fry:
- 1 pound
boneless pork chops
- 1 tablespoon
plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
- 1/2 medium
yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 10 ounces
shredded green cabbage (about 4 packed cups)
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt, plus more as needed
Freshly ground black pepper
- 1
medium sweet apple, such as Fuji or Pink Lady, quartered, cored, and thinly sliced
Cooked egg noodles, spaetzle, or steamed rice, for serving
Instructions
Make the marinade and sauce:
Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the sauce into a medium bowl; set the remaining sauce aside.
Make the stir-fry:
Halve the pork chops lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place the slices in the bowl with the 2 tablespoons of sauce and toss to coat; set aside.
Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1/2 of the pork in an even layer and cook undisturbed until starting to brown on the bottom, about 1 minute. Stir-fry with a metal spatula for 1 minute more, then transfer to a large plate (the pork will not be cooked through). Repeat with cooking the remaining pork in another 1 teaspoon of oil.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the onion and stir-fry until starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the cabbage, season with the 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes more.
Add the apple and pork and any accumulated juices to the pan. Re-whisk the sauce to dissolve the cornstarch, then add to the pan. Stir-fry until the pork is just cooked through and the sauce thickens and coats the pork and vegetables, about 2 minutes. Serve over steamed rice, spaetzle, or cooked egg noodles.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.