Fontina Pork Chops Food

PORK CHOPS ALLA FIORENTINA

Steps:

• Remove the pork chops from the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dry the pork chops well on both sides using paper towels and season evenly with 1 teaspoon salt.
• Add the oil to the pan and heat an additional 30 seconds. Add the pork chops to the pan and cook, undisturbed, until deep golden brown and beginning to look cooked around the edges, about 5 minutes. Flip the chops, lower the heat to medium and cook, searing the edges as well, until golden brown and the center reaches 140 to 145 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Remove to a plate to rest and carry-over cook.
• Return the pan to medium heat and add the butter, shallots and garlic. Cook until fragrant and soft, about 1 minute. Add the spinach to the pan along with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often until wilted. Stir in the mascarpone, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water and bring to a simmer. Stir in any juices from the pork that have accumulated on the plate and cook for 2 minutes longer. Spoon the sauce over the pork chops and serve.

FONTINA PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• For the pork chops: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Trim any excess fat from the chops. Season with salt and pepper. Dip the chops into the beaten egg, then into the bread crumbs until thoroughly coated. Allow to sit for about 10 minutes so the crumb mixture adheres properly. Heat the olive oil in an oven-proof pan (I used a 12" cast iron). Place the breaded chops in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Note: If not breading, brown the chops on both sides (stove top) then continue to the next step.
• Place the pan in the oven and cook until the pork chops are fully cooked. Time will vary depending on the thickness of the chops, about 12-15 minutes in the oven.
• For the sauce: Prepare the sauce while the chops are cooking. Heat olive oil in a pan. Add the mushrooms and prosciutto. Cook for 8-9 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and lightly browned.
• Add the garlic. Cook for another minute or two. Then removed the cooked mushrooms, prosciutto, and garlic and set aside. Add the marsala to the hot pan. Bring to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced to about 1/4 cup. Add the chicken broth. Return to a simmer and cook until a little more than 1 cup of liquid remains.
• Place the cornstarch in a small bowl. Spoon a few tablespoons of the hot liquid into the cornstarch and stir until combined. (Dissolving the cornstarch in a small amount of liquid before adding to the sauce will help to prevent lumps from forming.) Then, add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and simmer for another minute or two to thicken. Return the mushroom mixture to the pan and simmer for a minute to reheat.
• To serve: Upon removing the pork chops from the oven, sprinkle over the fontina cheese. Allow the pork chops to rest and the cheese to melt for a couple minutes. Then spoon the sauce over the chops and serve.

FONTINA AND PROSCIUTTO STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH GRILLED POLENTA SQUARES AND ROASTED CALIFORNIA GRAPES

Steps:

• Prepare the pork chops. Make a brine by combining the water, sugar, salt, thyme sprigs, clove and all-spice berries in a re-sealable bag. Add the pork chops, seal up the bag and put in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Drain the pork chops and pat dry. Using a paring knife, make a horizontal cut into the center of each chop to make a pocket. Stuff a slice of fontina and prosciutto inside each pocket and secure with a toothpick. Set 2 large cast iron skillets over medium-high heat and add a 2-count of extra-virgin olive oil to each skillet. Add 2 chops to each of the skillets and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until golden. Turn chops, push to 1 side and set grape clusters in pan. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper before putting the pans in the oven. Roast chops for 5 to 7 minutes until cooked through and cheese has melted. Remove from oven when done and set chops and clusters of roasted grapes aside on a plate - keep warm.
• Consolidate juices into 1 pan and set over medium heat. Add a splash of chicken stock to the pan, scraping the bottom to extract all the flavors. Fold in cold butter while whisking to thicken sauce. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, set 1 pork chop on each plate on top of a Grilled Polenta Square, garnish with a cluster of roasted grapes and drizzle with pan sauce. Set a stack of hydroponic watercress to 1 side and serve.
• Grilled Polenta Squares:
• Bring water and salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal in a slow steady stream. Lower heat and continue to whisk until the polenta is thick and smooth, about 20 minutes. Add the cream and butter and continue to stir until incorporated. Remove from heat; fold in Parmesan and black pepper. Pour the polenta into a buttered 9 by 13-inch shallow baking dish and spread evenly with a spatula. Cover and chill a few hours. Cut the polenta into squares. Brush both sides with olive oil and transfer to a hot grill. Grill on both sides until golden brown.;

GRILLED PORK AND FONTINA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Drizzle the pork chops on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle both sides with the herbs de Provence and grill for 10 minutes. Turn the chops over and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 160 degrees F. Transfer the chops to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes. Slice each chop into 6 (1/4-inch thick) slices.
• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, basil, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• To assemble the sandwiches: Lay the bottom half of the bread on a work surface and spread with 1/2 of the mayonnaise mixture. Add the lettuce leaves, arrange the cheese slices on the lettuce and top with the pork slices. Spread the top half of the bread with the remaining mayonnaise mixture and cover the sandwiches. Slice the loaf into 4 pieces and serve.

VEAL CHOPS WITH FONTINA

Steps:

• Arrange an oven rack to accommodate the covered saucepan, and heat the oven to 400°.
• Trim the chops, leaving only a thin layer of fat. With a sharp, thin knife, slice horizontally into the outer edge of each chop, splitting the meaty portion in two almost all the way to the bone, forming a pocket for stuffing. With the mallet, pound and spread the meaty part, flattening it to 1/2-inch thickness. Lift the top flap of the meat you just sliced apart, hold it up, and pound the bottom flap of meat a few more times, spreading it thinner and wider than the upper flap. When all the chops are sliced and pounded, salt them on both sides, using a teaspoon in all.
• Toss together the shredded fontina and the grana (grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano), and divide the cheeses into six equal portions. One at a time, lightly compress the cheese portions into oval patties, and slip them into the sliced chop pockets. Fold the larger bottom meat flap over the top flap-enclosing the cheese-and thread a toothpick through both flaps to keep them together. (The chops can be prepared up to this point a day in advance, sealed in plastic wrap, and refrigerated.)
• Put 2 tablespoons of the butter and the olive oil in the big pan, and set over medium-high heat. Spread the flour on a plate, dredge each chop on both sides, shake off excess flour, and lay it in the pan. When all the chops are in the pan, drop the sage leaves in between them. Cook the chops for 5 minutes or more, turning them once or twice, until well browned on both sides.
• Clear a space in the pan bottom, drop in the tomato paste, and toast it in the hot spot for a minute. Pour the wine over the tomato paste, stir them together, and shake the pan to distribute the liquid. Bring it to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes or so, to reduce.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whisk it into the pan liquid. Turn the chops over, pour in the chicken stock, sprinkle on the remaining salt, and bring to a boil.
• Cover the pan, and place in the oven. Roast for about 15 minutes, then remove the cover and roast another 10 minutes or so, until the chops are done and the sauce has thickened.
• Remove from the oven, and place the chops on a warm platter. (Drape a towel over the handle of the pan when it comes out of the oven to remind you it is very hot.) If the sauce is thin, put the pan over high heat and reduce until the sauce has the consistency you like.
• Serve right away-while the cheese is still oozing-arranging all the chops on a warm platter and spooning the sauce over, family-style, or on warm dinner plates with mashed potatoes alongside and sauce drizzled over. (If you do have fresh white truffle, shave it on the top of each chop at this moment.)

PORK CHOP WITH SAGE, PROSCIUTTO AND MELTED FONTINA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add 4 tablespoons butter and olive oil. Dust each chop with flour and add to the pan. Cook for 2 minutes on each side.
• Glaze pan with the Marsala, sage, salt and pepper. Top each chop with a slice of prosciutto and a slice of fontina. Place pan in oven until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven and place one chop on each plate.
• Use the remaining juices in the pan and add the rest of the butter. RTeduce sauce and pour over each chop.

PORK CHOPS FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Brown the chops in a skillet without adding any oil.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and then add the water. Cover and simmer till tender.
• Chop the spinach and mix with the onion and mix.
• Meanwhile, mix the flour, butter and milk and add it to the noodles.
• Spread spinach over the bottom of a casserole, pour noodles over that and arrange the chops on top of the noodles.
• Pour pan gravy over all.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake at 375 degrees F. for 15 minutes.