Pan-Seared Pork Medallions with Braised Cabbage and Apples
Golden pork medallions rest on sweet-sour braised cabbage and soft apples, finished with a squeeze of lemon in one skillet.
- AIP
- Celiac
- Hashimoto's
- PCOS
- Anti-inflammatory
- Pregnancy
- Toddlers
- Dairy-free
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart health
- Gluten-free
- Crohn’s and colitis
- High cholesterol
- Keto
- Low-GI
- Paleo
- Kid-friendly
- One pan
- Gluten-free dairy-free
Ingredients
- 1 pork tenderloin, about 500 g, cut into 8 medallions
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- ½ head green cabbage, cored and shredded
- 2 apples, sliced
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 lemon, juiced
Method
- Season the medallions with salt and sear in oil until browned on both sides.
- Add the cabbage, apples, garlic, thyme and water and braise until silky.10 min timer
- Return the pork and cook until it reads 145°F/63°C inside.8 min timer
- Set the kids' share aside: pork in small pieces, soft cabbage and apple.Kids’ plate comes out here
- Rest the pork, then squeeze the lemon over the pan.5 min timer
- Slice the medallions and pile them on the sweet braised cabbage.
Kids’ plate: Pork, Apple and Cabbage Plate
On the plate: Small pieces of seared pork, silky braised cabbage and soft apple slices, lemon left off.
Make it a game: Take turns choosing the next bite — one cabbage, one apple, one pork — like picking a path through dinner.
Set it aside at step 4, before the grown-ups’ sauce or spice goes on.
Why it works
- Autoimmune protocol (AIP): No grains, dairy, eggs or nightshades: apples and cabbage give the dish its sweetness.
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis: Gluten-free with no soy or seaweed, seasoned with garlic, thyme, salt and lemon.
- Pregnant: Nothing raw, unpasteurised or alcoholic; the pork cooks to temperature in the step.
- Toddler (1–3): Tender pork pieces and fruit-sweetened cabbage cooked until soft.
- Kid (4–12): Mild pork with sweet soft apples, nothing spicy or bitter.
AIP check: watch for nightshade spices (paprika, chili, cayenne), seed spices (cumin, coriander seed), seed oils and hidden sugar. Gluten gives food ideas, not medical advice: always check labels for allergens and cross-contact.
Cooking for more than one diet?
Add everyone you cook for, with their allergies, diets and ages. Gluten checks this recipe for each of them and tells you what to change for anyone who can’t eat it as written. It’s free.
More AIP recipes
Crispy Oven Chicken Nuggets with Broccoli and Pear Wedges
Tapioca-crusted chicken nuggets baked crisp with roasted broccoli, juicy pear wedges and avocado on the side.
Kids’ plate: Dino nuggets
Garlic Baked Haddock with Carrots, Zucchini and Dill
Flaky garlic-roasted haddock over tender carrots and zucchini, finished with lemon and lots of fresh dill.
Kids’ plate: Fish boat dinner
Sage Pork Meatballs with Roasted Carrots and Broccoli
Juicy apple-sage pork meatballs with caramelized carrots and crispy broccoli, all on one sheet pan.
Kids’ plate: Meatball stackers
Sheet-Pan Tilapia with Pineapple Salsa and Sweet Potato Wedges
Flaky oregano-garlic fish roasts in the same pan as crisp sweet potato wedges, topped with a bright pineapple, scallion and basil salsa.
Kids’ plate: Fish and Sweet Potato Boats
Garlic-Rosemary Drumsticks with Roasted Plantain and Zucchini
Sticky-skinned drumsticks roast alongside caramelised plantain and tender zucchini in one pan, with cool avocado and lemon zest to finish.
Kids’ plate: Drumstick Dinner
Sage Turkey Skillet with Butternut Squash and Kale
Savory sage-scented turkey mingles with sweet squash and tender kale for a cozy, colorful skillet dinner.
This recipe also fits: Celiac recipes, Hashimoto's recipes, PCOS recipes, Anti-inflammatory recipes, Pregnancy recipes, Toddlers recipes, Dairy-free recipes, Diabetes recipes, High blood pressure recipes, Heart health recipes, Gluten-free recipes, Crohn’s and colitis recipes, High cholesterol recipes, Keto recipes, Low-GI recipes, Paleo recipes, Kid-friendly recipes, One pan recipes, Gluten-free dairy-free recipes.