Cider Brined Pork Roast - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 cups apple cider
1/3 cup kosher salt, plus
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large fresh bay leaves, torn plus
1 bay leaf, for when roasting
5 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
1 (2 1/2 lb) center cut boneless pork loin roast
2 garlic cloves
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 gala apples or 4 other cooking apples, cored and quartered
3 medium yellow onions, quartered
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Preparation

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups cider, 1/3 cup salt, brown sugar, torn bay leaves, cloves and peppercorns to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in 2 cups each water and cider; cool to room temperature.
Place pork loin in a 2 gallon resealable plastic bag and pour cooled brine mixture over. Allow meat to brine, refrigerated for at least 8 hours or up to 1 day.
Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F Finely chop garlic, 1 sprig rosemary and remaining bay leaf. Add remaining salt and ground pepper; mash into a paste with the flat side of a knife.
Remove pork from brine (discard liquid), pat dry, and rub with garlic-herb mixture. Place in large roasting pan and scatter apples and onions around it. Break remaining rosemary sprig into 4 pieces, scatter atop apples and onions. Transfer pan to oven and roast meat until internal temperature reaches 160F, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Transfer pork loin to serving platter with all but 4 pieces each apple and onion. Allow meat to rest 15 minutes before serving.
Meanwhile, place roasting pan with drippings, reserved onions and apples on stove top over medium heat and add remaining 1 cup cider plus 1 cup water. Cook, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan until liquid is hot, about 2 minutes. Strain mixture into bowl, pressing liquid from solids; set aside. Return roasting pan to stove top and melt butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk until golden brown. Whisk in reserved cider mixture and continue to whisk until gravy is smooth. Serve hot with pork roast.