Aces Pork Chops W Cherry Peppers Fennel Food

CRISPY FENNEL PORK CHOPS WITH PAN-FRIED FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat half the oil in a frying pan and fry the spring onions and fennel for 5 to 6 minutes over a medium-high heat until they begin to soften and become golden. Add the spices and cook for a minute more, tossing the onions and fennel until coated, then remove from the pan and set aside.
• Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Increase the heat and fry the chops for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until lovely and golden and nearly cooked through.
• Return the spring onions and fennel to the pan with a splash of water and the vinegar. Bubble for 1 minute, then serve.

PEAR 'N' FENNEL PORK

Steps:

• Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook chops in oil over medium-high heat until juices run clear, 4-5 minutes on each side; drain. Set chops aside and keep warm. , In the same skillet, saute the onion and fennel in butter until crisp-tender. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, pear nectar, syrup and nutmeg until smooth; add to the skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over pork chops.

ONE-POT ROAST PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL & POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the potatoes, fennel, pepper, thyme and garlic in a large roasting tin. Mix together the tomato paste and stock, then pour into the pan. Tightly cover with foil and cook for 30 mins. Take out of the oven and increase the temperature to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.
• Remove the foil and place the pork in the roasting tin, nestling in between the veg. Season well and return to the oven for 15-20 mins more or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with the pan juices drizzled over.

PORK CHOPS SMOTHERED WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Sprinkle the chops with liberal amounts of salt and black pepper.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high to high heat. When the oil begins to smoke, add the chops and brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• While the chops cook, slice the garlic, onion and peppers.
• Remove the chops from the skillet and add the remaining tablespoon oil. Then add the fennel seeds, garlic, onions and peppers and toss to soften, 5 minutes. Next, add the tomato paste and stir 1 minute. Deglaze the pan with the wine, add the stock and stir. Nest the pork into the pan and move the peppers and onions on top of the meat. Place in the oven and roast to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 10 minutes.

PORK CHOPS IN CHERRY-PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Drain the cherry peppers, reserving 1 cup brine, then stem, halve, core and seed them. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and swirl the olive oil into it. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the garlic, and sauté, stirring frequently, until it begins to color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the peppers, the reserved brine and the white wine, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the liquid has reduced by slightly more than half, 10 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat. (The sauce can be made a few hours ahead of time.)
• When you're ready to cook the meat, season it aggressively with salt and pepper. Place a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, and swirl the neutral oil into it. When the oil begins to shimmer, place the meat in the pan, working in batches if needed, and sear until the meat has browned, formed something of a crust and cooked through to medium-rare, 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Transfer the chops to a warmed platter.
• Add the sauce to the large, heavy-bottomed skillet in which you seared the meat, and warm over medium-low heat. Whisk the butter into the sauce until evenly distributed and the sauce develops a velvety sheen. Spoon sauce over chops, and garnish with parsley.

PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the pan and brown on both sides, about 4 minutes each side. Remove the pork from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside.
• Add the fennel, shallots, and 1/3 cup parsley to the pan and cook over medium heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the wine. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes and stir. Add the pork back into the pan, nestling the chops between the fennel and tomatoes so they are mostly submerged in the pan juices. Cook until the fennel is tender and the pork is done, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place the pork on a serving dish. To finish the sauce, add the lemon zest, remaining 1/3 cup parsley, capers, and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Spoon over the pork chops and serve immediately.

BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Make the brine: Put salt, sugar, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice and fennel seeds in a bowl. Whisk in 4 cups water to dissolve salt and sugar.
• Put pork chops in one layer in a glass or plastic container. Pour brine over to completely submerge chops. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably longer, up to overnight. Remove chops from brine and pat dry. Discard brine.
• Cook the chops: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Set a wide, heavy skillet over high heat and add olive oil. When oil is wavy, add chops in one layer and let brown for about 3 minutes per side.
• Remove chops from pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium-high and add sliced onion and fennel, stirring to coat with oil. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and crushed fennel seeds and turn off heat.
• Lay the chops on top of the onion-fennel mixture (alternatively, transfer all of it to a baking dish) and place pan, uncovered, in oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the internal temperature of chops is 140 degrees.
• Remove chops and let rest for about 5 minutes. Transfer onion-fennel mixture to a platter and keep warm. Cut chops into 1/8-inch slices and add to platter. Sprinkle with parsley and garnish with fennel fronds. Serve with lemon wedges.

APPLESAUCE PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion and apple slices in the melted butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer onion and apple to a bowl.
• Place pork chops in the same skillet; cook over medium heat until pork chops are browned on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
• Mix applesauce, brown sugar, mustard, and cinnamon into onion and apple mixture.
• Place pork chops in a 9x9-inch baking dish; season with salt and black pepper. Spoon applesauce mixture over pork chops; cover dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until pork chops are no longer pink in the center, about 30 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

FENNEL-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH WINTER CELERIAC SLAW

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the oil, fennel seeds, oregano, chilli and some seasoning on a shallow plate. Rub each pork chop on both sides in the mixture. Place on a baking tray and roast for 40 mins.
• Meanwhile, make the slaw. Put the mayonnaise, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, sugar and a good pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well, then toss in the vegetables.
• When the pork chops are done, set aside 2 of the chops with one-third of the slaw for lunch. Divide remaining slaw between 4 plates and add a pork chop to each.

ACE'S PORK CHOPS W/ CHERRY PEPPERS & FENNEL

Steps:

• Use the extra salt and pepper to season the chops on both sides. Over very high heat sear the chops in pan on both side (appx 3-4 mins) or until they are brown on both sides.
• Remove from pan (cover with foil) and lower hear to med high.
• Add fennel, hot and bell peppers, shallot, 1/4 cup parsley and cook till lightly brown (appx 3 mins).
• Add wine and chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping up brown bits from bottom (that's where all the flavor is).
• Add tomatoes and stir.
• Place pork back into the pan nesting in fennel and tomato mixture.
• Cook fr 12 to 15 mins or until pork is done.
• Place pork on dish and add lemon juice and zest, parsley, capers and salt and pepper.
• Mix and pour over chops.