Cinnamon Apple Pork with Baked Cauliflower Crumble

Cinnamon Pork with caramelized apple and cauliflower crumble is a hearty and delicious winter dinner. This is one recipe that I always get asked for, and I'm happy to say it's finally back in the app.

You may have seen other pork and apple recipes, but this one takes this flavor combination to a new level with an Asian twist. We add sesame oil and dark soy so the pork loin marinade is super sweet, sticky and a little salty. While that is marinating we slice up apple and cauliflower and toss in cinnamon, panko breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, sultanas, and pecans. The panko breadcrumbs make a sort of crumble topping, which is a delicious way to bake vegetables, resulting in caramelized apples and cauliflower. Once cooked, we toss through some parboiled greens, parsley and top with a tahini honey dressing.

This is one of those warming meals you can make on a weeknight and the whole family will enjoy, or it's also great for a dinner party, because it looks beautiful and is one your friends will love.

What do I need to make Cinnamon Apple Pork?

• Pork loin steaks - you should be able to buy these at the supermarket, steaks sliced into 1-2 cm thickness. 400 g is about 8-10 steaks, so you can serve 2 per person. You could also use pork tenderloin, sliced, or bone-in pork chops or boneless pork chops.
• Marinade - mix dark soy sauce, brown sugar, cinnamon, finely grated garlic and sesame oil.
• Apple - I prefer red apples, but you can use granny smith or any kind of apples you like. Cut apple into cubes (not apple slices) so it is a similar texture to the cauliflower.
• Cauliflower - use a whole cauliflower for four, and chop into 1-2 cm pieces. No need to cut it into florets.
• Crumble - mix through olive oil, sultanas, panko breadcrumbs, cinnamon and brown sugar mixture.
• Greens - green beans and parsley.
• Tahini dressing - apple cider vinegar, tahini, honey, salt, olive oil and water.

How do I make Cinnamon Apple Pork?

First, in a small bowl mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the pork, mix to cover and set aside.

Then chop the apples and cauliflower and toss with the crumble ingredients. You can either add these to a baking dish, or bake directly on a baking tray in a preheated oven.

Prepare your beans and parsley. Use a sharp knife to chop the parsley nice and finely.

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, cook the pork for 2-3 minutes each side, or 4-5 minutes total cooking time. Give it a good sear, and the smell and flavors of brown sugar and cinnamon will fill your kitchen.

Mix the tahini dressing ingredients together.

Once the crumble is cooked, mix through the parboiled green beans and top with parsley and tahini dressing.

Serve pork steaks in a dish with the cinnamon apple mixture on the side.

What type of Apples do I need for Apple Cinnamon Pork?

I used red apples, but you can really use any type of apple in this recipe. Tart apples like granny smiths will give you that nice tart flavor that contrasts with the sweetness of the cinnamon, but I enjoy the extra sweetness of red apples.

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Substitutions

• This recipe is dairy free.
• To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
• This is a delicious dinner all together, but if you wanted a meat-free version you could make the apple and cauliflower crumble as a side dish.

Optional Add-ins

• Instead of olive oil, you could use melted butter through the crumble, it would be next level! Or you could use vegetable oil.
• You could add fresh rosemary, sweet potatoes or red onion to the crumble bake mixture.
• You could add a teaspoon ground nutmeg to the pork marinade mixture.

Kid-Friendly Variations

• When serving kids, slice the pork into fingers, and serve beans and vegetables separately. Skip the tahini dressing and the parsley.

Equipment

You will need an oven, a roasting dish, a pot, a stovetop, a frying pan or bbq.

More Easy Recipes with Pork Loin Steaks

Five Spice Pork

Pork with Mango Salsa

BBQ Pork Sandwich with Slaw

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