Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 12-ounce pork rib chops
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 4 whole star anise*
• 2 Fuji apples (about 1 pound), cored, sliced 1/2-inch thick
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Add pork to skillet; cook until brown on both sides and thermometer inserted horizontally into pork registers 140°F, about 7 minutes per side. Transfer to plates; tent with foil.
2. Pour off drippings from skillet. Add 2 tablespoons butter, brown sugar, and star anise to same skillet and stir over high heat until melted. Add apples; cook until brown and caramelized, stirring frequently, about 8 minutes. Spoon apples over pork. Add apple juice and vinegar to skillet; boil sauce until reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 3 minutes. Whisk in remaining 1 tablespoon butter; season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle sauce over apples and pork.
3. *Brown, star-shaped seedpods; available in the spice section of some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Asian markets.