Balsamic Pork Loin Roast with Honey

Serves 5 in about 1 hour. The pressure cooker brings apple cider and corn starch together.

Ingredients

• 2 lb pork loin roast* (not tenderloin) boneless
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, sliced into thick rounds
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅓ cup apple cider
• ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar (good quality)
• 1 tart apple, such as granny smith, sliced thick (core it, but no need to peel)
• 3 tablespoons corn starch
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method

1. Salt and pepper all sides of the roast, using 1 tsp of the salt and ½ tsp of the pepper. keep it nearby.
2. Turn on the Sauté setting. When hot, add the oil.
3. Tip in the pork roast and onion. Brown the roast for 2-3 minutes per side. Then remove it to a plate.
4. Scatter the garlic powder, and remaining salt and pepper over the onions.
5. Tip in the apple cider, and when it starts to simmer, stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to get up all of the browned bits (deglaze).
6. Tip in the balsamic vinegar.
7. Tip in the apple slices to the pot and then set the roast on top.
8. Cancel the sauté setting.
9. Close the lid and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
10. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to select 30 minutes. High Pressure. (if your roast is larger than 2.5 pounds, or is bone-in, add 10 minutes cook time per pound.). The pot will take several minutes to come to pressure.
11. When the cook cycle has finished, turn off the pot and let it sit undisturbed for 12 minutes (12 instant natural release). Then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to release the remaining steam/pressure.
12. When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid.
13. Take the temperature of the roast. It should be close to 145° F. If it is much below that (by 10 degrees or more), place the lid back on the pot and seal it. Then set time for "0" minutes and after it is done, let it sit 5 minutes before releasing pressure and opening it.
14. Lift out the roast to a plate and loosely cover with foil.
15. Beat together the corn starch and the cold water. keep it nearby.
16. Turn the sauté setting on and when it starts to simmer, stir in the corn starch slurry. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens.
17. Turn off the pot and taste the sauce before adding the honey. You can add more honey if you like it sweeter, or omit if you think it is sweet enough. Adjust salt if you want it.
18. Move roast to a serving dish, slice it, and pour some of the sauce over it.
19. Plate each portion with some of the extra sauce.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.