Pork with Gingersnap Sauce

• Recipe by Grace Parisi

This dish uses gingersnaps—a perennial holiday gift—two ways: as a sweet crust for pork medallions and as a flavoring for the rich, appley sauce.

Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup finely ground gingersnaps, plus 3 tablespoons coarsely crushed gingersnaps, for garnish
2. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3. Two 12-ounce pork tenderloins
4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
5. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
7. 1 medium shallot, minced
8. 1/4 cup Calvados or other apple brandy
9. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10. 1/2 cup apple cider
11. 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
12. 2 tablespoons chopped chives

Directions

1. On a sheet of wax paper, mix 2 tablespoons of the ground gingersnaps with the flour. Cut the pork tenderloins crosswise, about 2 inches thick. Gently pound each piece to a 1-inch thickness. Season the pork with salt and pepper and dredge in the flour mixture.
2. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the olive oil. Add the pork all at once and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned and nearly cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate.
3. Add the shallot to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 1 minute. Add the Calvados and cook, stirring, until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and apple cider and simmer until reduced to 1 cup, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and the remaining 2 tablespoons of ground gingersnaps and 1 tablespoon of butter and cook, stirring, until thickened, 1 minute. Return the pork to the skillet and cook for 1 minute longer. Transfer the pork to plates and spoon the sauce on top. Garnish with the crushed gingersnaps and chives.