Cider Braised Plant-Based Loin

Name: Cider Braised Loin
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 6-8
Ingredients: 6 shallots (peeled and halved); 2 pounds / 900 g baby potatoes (no need to peel them); 4 carrots (peeled and roughly chopped); 2 apples (cored and roughly chopped); 6 garlic cloves (peeled); 12 sage leaves; 5 sprigs of thyme; 1 sprig of rosemary; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt; ¼ tsp cracked black pepper; 1 Whole-Cut Loin; 2 tbsp olive oil; ¾ tsp salt; ¼ tsp allspice; ¼ tsp cracked black pepper; 1 tbsp plain white flour; 2 tbsp olive oil; 3/4 cup / 180 ml apple cider; 3/4 cup / 180 ml vegetable stock; 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp salt; ¼ tsp cracked black pepper; 2 bay leaves; Fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary (for decoration)

WITH AROMATIC HERBS, VEGETABLES, AND APPLES

If you’re like me, your poor, overstimulated brain is bombarded with more new recipe trends than you could ever hope (or want) to make in your entire life. Honestly, I simply won’t survive another ‘high-protein-low-calorie-zero-carb’ Tiramisu made of chocolate protein water and rice cakes.... But! Some trends do intrigue me to the point of obsession. This fall, it was cider-braised meats. The whole concept preoccupied my mind to the point that I’d mentally execute the entire cooking process multiple times a night just to fall asleep. But according to the feedback from people at our pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner, my unhealthy fixation was well worth it. The interplay of tangy cider, tender meat, and subtly fruity aromas threw the entire table into a frenzy—and gave me a taste of sweet, sweet validation. I highly recommend the experience.

⬇️ JUMP TO RECIPE ⬇️

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Packed with Festive Fall Flavours - Apple cider, fresh herbs, and allspice do all the heavy lifting.
A Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Centerpiece - Pair it with a rich gravy, custardy stuffing, and crunchy salad, and you’ve got yourself a festive feast.
Easy to Prepare - You might have to do a bit of chopping, but most of the culinary magic happens in the oven while you take a pre-dinner nap.

Key Ingredients for Cider Braised Loin

Whole-Cut Loin is rubbed with just a teeny tiny sprinkle of allspice for a festive flavour, and paired with perfectly tender roasted vegetables.
Potatoes, Carrots, and Shallots are slowly roasted with aromatic herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage.
Flour helps to create a crispy crust and thickens the braising liquid into a glossy gravy.
Apple Cider brings sweetness, complexity, and earthy flavours.
Vegetable Stock balances out the sweetness of apple cider.
Apple Cider Vinegar adds brightness and tang.

Equipment You’ll Need

Cutting board
Sharp knife
Kitchen scale
Measuring spoons and cups
Measuring jug
Oven-safe dish or baking tray
Small bowl for making dry rub
Large non-stick pan for browning the Loin
Spoon for basting

How To Prepare Cider-Braised Loin

1. Prep the Veg

Preheat the oven, and prepare the vegetables, apples, and herbs in the meantime. Transfer everything into a baking tray, and season with salt, pepper, and a healthy drizzle of olive oil.

Place in the oven to bake while you prepare the Whole-Cut Loin.

2. Prep the Loin

Make a dry rub by mixing salt, allspice, black pepper, and white flour. Sprinkle all over the defrosted Whole-Cut Loin and rub it in.

Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the Loin and cook it 2-3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Add a piece of butter if you’re feeling extra. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Mix the Braising Liquid

Combine apple cider, vegetable stock, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a jug and whisk.

4. Bake Away

After 20 minutes, remove the vegetables from the oven, nestle the Loin in, and pour over the braising liquid. Place the tray in the oven for another 30 minutes.

Baste the Whole-Cut Loin and vegetables with braising liquid every 5-10 minutes.

5. Finishing touches

Once the vegetables are tender and the Loin nicely roasted, remove the tray from the oven. Pick out the herbs, transfer the veggies and the Loin on a nice serving platter, and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Tips & Tricks

Use Good Apple Cider. The flavour of the cider you use will affect the final dish.
Use Your Favorite Herbs. Rosemary, bay leaf, thyme, sage, parsley, and marjoram all work well in this recipe.
Don’t forget to baste the Loin. Basting Whole-Cut Loin and Vegetables will make them more flavorful.

FAQ

What type of potatoes should I use?

Any potato works, but I like to use baby potatoes due to their size and the fact that I can bake them with the skin on (which means less work for me).

Can I substitute apple cider with apple juice?

Apple cider is unfiltered, cloudy, and tangier, adding more complexity and earthy tones than apple juice, which is clear, sweet, and simple in flavour. You can substitute apple cider with apple juice, but the result will be different and slightly sweeter.

If using apple juice, make sure to start with a smaller quantity, taste, and adjust to your liking.

What other vegetables could I add to this roast?

Mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, beetroot, fennel, or celery would all work very well in this recipe.

Can I prepare this ahead of time?

You can prepare the raw vegetables, dry rub, and braising liquid ahead of time. The roasted vegetables and Whole-Cut Loin are best when prepared fresh.

What should I serve this with?

Serve this delicious festive main with a crunchy salad and gravy. Whip up our OG Gravy, or Caramelised Onion Gravy recipe, if you’re looking for a saucy companion.

Can I prepare this recipe gluten-free?

Of course, swap plain white flour for a gluten-free one, and make sure you are using gluten-free vegetable stock.

*Note: while Marbles Meats aren’t gluten-free certified, we do not use gluten in our recipe.

Cider Braised Loin

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Author:

Špela Turk

Servings

6-8

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

50 minutes

This festive Thanksgiving centerpiece requires a bit of chopping and a quick fry, but trust me, the effort is worth it. The finished dish is a sweet-and-savory showstopper that will crown you host of the year… and every year after, since people will want you to host Thanksgiving forever.

Ingredients

Vegetables

6 shallots (peeled and halved)
2 pounds / 900 g baby potatoes (no need to peel them)
4 carrots (peeled and roughly chopped)
2 apples (cored and roughly chopped)
6 garlic cloves (peeled)
12 sage leaves
5 sprigs of thyme
1 sprig of rosemary
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp cracked black pepper

Loin

1 Whole-Cut Loin
2 tbsp olive oil

Dry Rub

¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp allspice
¼ tsp cracked black pepper
1 tbsp plain white flour
2 tbsp olive oil

Cider Mix

3/4 cup / 180 ml apple cider
3/4 cup / 180 ml vegetable stock
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp cracked black pepper
2 bay leaves

Optional

Fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary (for decoration)

Directions

Prepare the Vegetables

Preheat the oven to 374°F / 190°C (fan or convection).
Prepare the vegetables and apples, and add them to an oven-safe baking dish.
Add fresh herbs, and season everything with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes.

Prepare the Loin

In the meantime, prepare the Whole-Cut Loin. Combine all the dry rub ingredients in a bowl, and sprinkle over the defrosted Loin. Use your hands to rub it in.
Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Place the Loin in the pan and cook it for 2-3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Remove from the pan.
Prepare the cider braising liquid by combining apple cider, vegetable stock, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.

Bring It All Together

After 20 minutes, remove the vegetables from the oven, nestle in the Whole-Cut Loin, and pour over the braising liquid.
Return the baking dish to the oven. Baste the Loin with braising liquid every 5-10 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes, until vegetables are fork-tender, and Whole-Cut Loin is nicely browned.
Once done, take the baking dish out of the oven, and remove large pieces of herbs.
Sprinkle with more fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary to make it fancy.

Create this masterpiece, snap a picture, and tag us @juicymarbles to share your culinary triumph. Bon appétit!