Brined Pork Chops With Apple Hash Food

GRILLED APPLE BRINED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 1 cup of water, apple juice, pepper, salt, sugar and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer making sure to stir occasionally to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from heat and add to a large bowl with 2 cups of ice.
• Once the brined has cooled add pork chops. Brine for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
• Remove pork from brine, rinse with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. Sprinkle 1 side of the pork chops with 1/2 the grill seasoning. Place chops on hot oiled grill, seasoned side down. Sprinkle the topside with remaining grill seasoning. Grill chops for 4 to 5 minutes per side. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

CIDER-BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH PERFECT PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the brine: combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, coriander, mustard seeds, allspice berries, bay leaves, thyme and 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar and salt, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour in the cold cider. Let the brine cool to room temperature.
• Put the pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag and pour in the brine. Press out excess air and seal tightly. Put the bag in a shallow container so it can lay flat and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Drain the chops, rinse and pat dry. Discard the brine.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chops (work in batches if necessary; do not crowd the pan) and cook, turning occasionally, until they are golden brown and cooked through, 13 to 14 minutes. (If the chops are browning too quickly or the pan drippings start to burn, lower the heat.) Remove to a plate.
• For the sauce: Discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and place over medium heat. Add the garlic, rosemary and thyme and cook until sizzling, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to make a paste. Whisk in the cider and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer until very thick, about 1 minute. Add the stock, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the cream and simmer to bring the sauce together, about 1 minute. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, vinegar and parsley. Season to taste with salt. Add the chops to the pan and simmer, turning occasionally, until just heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs.

SMOKED PORK CHOP HASH

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the bell pepper and zucchini; cook, stirring, until just tender, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Add the pork to the skillet and sprinkle with the chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is heated through, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high and cook until the pork and vegetables are golden brown, 2 to 3 more minutes. Add the kale, cherry peppers and brine; toss until the kale is wilted, about 1 minute. Stir in the basil and season with salt. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese curds.

PORK CHOPS WITH APPLES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• For the apple compote: In a large saute pan over high heat, add the oil and allow to heat to the verge of smoking. Then add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Allow the onions to cook, stirring throughout, until light brown in color, about 2 minutes. Then add the bacon and allow to cook until the bacon has begun to brown. Then add the apples. After adding the apples, allow all the ingredients to blend in flavor for a final 2 minutes. Add the wine to deglaze the pan and allow the alcohol to cook off. After reducing the wine, reduce the heat to low and whisk in the butter and optional spices, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes to create a sauce. Finish with the mint and hold warm until serving.
• For the chops: In large a saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and allow to warm. Sprinkle the chops with salt and pepper equally on both sides and add to the warm oil. Allow the chops to brown on the first side for 3 to 4 minutes, and then flip and repeat cooking on the second side for a final 3 to 4 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the pan and serve with potatoes of choice. Finish with the apple compote.

BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH APPLES

Steps:

• For brine:
• Combine first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Add pork chops to brine. Top with plate to submerge pork. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• For pork:
• Drain brine from pork chops. Pat pork dry. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add pork and cook until brown but not cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer pork to plate.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add pork onion to same skillet. Cover and cook until onion is soft, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add apples and sauté until pale golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in broth and cider, then Calvados, raisins and ginger, scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet. Add cream and mustard. Bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add pork. Cover; cook 3 minutes. Turn pork over and cook until thermometer inserted into center of pork registers 150°F, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer pork to plates.
• Simmer sauce until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes longer. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pork and serve.