Braised Pork Chops With Sage Food

PORK CHOPS WITH SQUASH AND SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prepare the brine: Place 5 cups of cold water in a large bowl.
• Next heat 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 4 of the sage leaves in a small saucepan; cook over medium high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar and salt. Add salt mixture to the bowl of cold water.
• Place the pork chops in the brine for at least 10 minutes. Chop 3 of the sage leaves and set aside.
• Now toss together (either in a large bowl or directly on your baking sheet) the squash, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and remaining 5 sage leaves. Season with nutmeg and about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Roast until tender about 20 to 25 minutes (at 425 degrees F).
• Drain the pork chops and pat them dry with paper toweling. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Cook pork chops to an internal temperature of 140 degrees, about 5 to 7 minutes per side (you can insert your meat thermometer in the side for a true reading).
• To the skillet, add the chicken broth and remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar, simmer, stirring, until reduced by half. This takes about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and squeeze in the lemon juice, add the reserved chopped sage, and any salt to taste.
• To serve: Place a pork chop on each of 4 plates. Drizzle with the pan sauce. Serve squash on the side.

PORK CHOPS WITH SAGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
• Blot the surface of the pork chops dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In two batches, brown the chops about 5 minutes per side. Add the remaining oil for the second batch. Transfer to a platter and cover to keep warm.
• Drain off any excess oil from the skillet and return it to the heat. Add the vinegar and chicken broth, stirring to loosen any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a boil and reduce the liquid by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. once the liquid is thick and syrupy whisk in the butter. stir in the chopped sage and pour over the pork chops. Garnish with sage leaves.

BRAISED PORK LOIN WITH SAGE

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from pork.
• Tie with butchers string.
• Put 3 sage leaves on top and 3 on the bottom of roast under string.
• Rub the meat with salt & pepper.
• In a dutch oven, on med-high heat, melt butter and oil, when hot add the pork and sear quickly on all sides, 5 minutes or so. The sear is very important. Reduce heat to med-low and add garlic (whole) 1-2 minutes transfer meat and garlic to plate, pour off fat.
• Return meat to pan( with garlic) and bay leaf.
• Add 1/2 cup wine, vinegar, and 2 more sage leaves.
• Cover tightly, reduce to low, simmer for 2 hours turning 1/2 way through cooking, add more wine if needed.
• Let meat rest covered in foil.
• Meanwhile, discard bay,garlic,and sage from pan.
• Skim fat off (you need about 1 cup of liquid, add water if needed.
• Melt 1 tbsp butter into separate pan add flour and cook 1-2 minutes add pan juices whisking constantly until thick and smooth.
• Arrange meat on platter, spoon sauce over top and garnish with sage leaves.