Cornmeal Crusted Pork Food

CORNBREAD-CRUSTED FRIED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and top with a cooling rack.
• Sprinkle both sides of the pork chops liberally with salt and pepper. Combine the buttermilk and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl. Put the pork chops in the buttermilk mixture, being sure that all 4 are submerged. Set aside to rest for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, put the cornbread crumbs into a shallow dish.
• Pour the vegetable oil into a large (10-inch) cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan. Clip a deep-frying thermometer to its side and heat the oil to 350 degrees F.
• Lift a pork chop out of the buttermilk by its top bone using tongs, and allow any excess to drip off. Lightly dredge both sides of the pork chop in the cornbread crumbs. Carefully lower the coated chop into the hot oil. Repeat this process with a second chop. Cook the chops until crispy on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently turn the pork chops and fry until golden brown, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the crispy chops to the prepared cooling rack. Sprinkle the chops with additional salt and transfer to the oven to stay warm while the remaining chops are fried. Repeat this process with the remaining pork chops.
• For the white gravy: Reserve 2 tablespoons of skillet oil for the gravy, then drain the remaining oil from the skillet, being sure to remove any bits of fried cornbread left behind. Add the butter to the skillet, pour in the reserved oil and heat over medium heat until the butter melts. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking, and cook until a smooth paste is formed, about 1 minute. Pour in the milk, whisking continuously. Cook, whisking occasionally, until a thick sauce is formed and the gravy coats the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the hot sauce and season the gravy with salt and pepper as desired.
• Transfer the crispy pork chops to a serving platter. Spoon the white gravy over the chops and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

CORNMEAL CRUST

Steps:

• Whisk cornmeal with 1 1/2 cups cold water.
• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water, salt, and pepper to a boil.
• Gradually stir in cornmeal mixture. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring often, until very thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in butter until melted.

CORNMEAL-AND-CHILE-CUMIN COATED PORK LOIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pat pork dry and season with salt and pepper. Stir together cornmeal and cumin and transfer to a plate. Turn pork in cornmeal mixture to coat well and discard any remaining mixture.
• Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet until hot but not smoking and brown pork, turning, about 3 minutes. Transfer pork to a shallow baking pan and roast in middle of oven until a thermometer inserted diagonally at least 2 inches into pork registers 155°F, 30 to 45 minutes. Let stand, loosely covered, 10 minutes. Cut pork into 12 slices (about 1/4 inch thick).

ROASTED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH SAGE CORN BREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Pat pork dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown pork, turning, about 4 minutes. Transfer to an oiled shallow baking pan.
• Add butter to skillet and cook garlic over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat and stir in crumbs, sage, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread mustard over pork and pat half of seasoned crumbs onto mustard, then sprinkle with remaining seasoned crumbs. Roast in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into meat registers 155°F, 20 to 25 minutes. (Check after 15 minutes to see if crumbs are getting too dark; if they are, tent loosely with foil.) Transfer to a cutting board, then tent loosely with foil and let stand 10 minutes before slicing (temperature will rise to 160°F).

BREADED PORK CHOPS FOR FOUR

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl or large resealable plastic bag, combine the first seven ingredients. Dip pork chops into milk, then into the cornmeal mixture. Place on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until juices run clear.