MSG Free Apple Cider Roast Pork Loin
This roast is the kind of centerpiece that makes a weeknight feel like a special occasion — fragrant with warm spices, glossy with a cider pan sauce, and surrounded by tender braised apples and onions. Every ingredient here is whole and straightforward, which means no hidden flavor enhancers, no seasoning packets, and no processed shortcuts to second-guess. The spice rub leans into Ceylon cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and dried herbs for depth that's entirely natural, while unfiltered apple cider and bone broth do the heavy lifting in the braising liquid. Searing at high heat first locks in a beautiful crust, then a lower roast brings the pork to a juicy, perfectly safe 145°F without drying it out. The pan sauce comes together in minutes using arrowroot starch as a thickener — clean, effective, and completely free of any starch blends that might carry additives. It's the kind of dish that tastes like it took far more effort than it did, and every component on the platter earned its place.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the pork
- 2 ½ lb boneless pork loin roast
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary, crumbled
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ceylon cinnamon
For the roasting pan
- 3 medium apples (such as honeycrisp or fuji), cored and cut into 1-inch wedges
- 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
For the braising liquid
- 1 cup unfiltered apple cider (not hard cider)
- 1 cup bone broth
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
For the pan sauce
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
- 2 tbsp cold water
For serving
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Pat the pork loin completely dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, stir together the salt, dried thyme, dried rosemary, ginger, turmeric, and Ceylon cinnamon. Rub the coconut oil all over the pork, then press the spice mixture evenly onto all sides.
- 2
Scatter the apple wedges, onion wedges, smashed garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs across the bottom of a large roasting pan or oven-safe skillet. Pour the apple cider, bone broth, apple cider vinegar, and honey over the apples and onions, and stir briefly to combine.
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