Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops By Stephanie Olzinski Rdn Food

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Place the spinach in a microwave safe steamer or bowl with loosely fitted cover with 1 T water. Cook high 1 minute or until wilted. Drain water from spinach.
• In a bowl combine softened goat cheese, wilted spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Set mixture aside.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a slit in each pork chop, being careful not to cut through to other side but making it deep enough to create a pocket.
• Spoon spinach mixture into the pocket of each pork chop.
• Place breadcrumbs on a plate and press the pork on both sides into the crumbs to coat.
• Heat oil and butter in a large non stick skillet over medium/high heat. Once butter is melted, add pork chops to pan.
• Cook pork about 4-5 minutes until nicely browned then turn over. Brown other side and cook until no longer pink in the middle. *See Notes*
• Serve with potatoes, rice or pasta.

CHEESE-STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Dissolve 1/4 cup salt and the sugar in 3 cups warm water in a large bowl. Insert a paring knife into the curved side of each pork chop to make a deep pocket, about 2 inches wide. Soak the chops in the brine, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, finely chop the escarole and garlic. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Remove the chops from the brine and pat dry. Fold each cheese slice and tuck into the pocket of a pork chop, then stuff with the escarole mixture. Brush the pork with olive oil, sprinkle with the sage and season with salt and pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the pork in batches, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add the beans and 1/3 cup water to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits; season with salt and pepper. Return the pork to the skillet, cover and cook over medium heat until no longer pink, 5 to 7 more minutes. Serve the pork with the beans.

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• heat 2 oil and butter over medium-high heat in a skillet.
• insert paring knife into chop at end away from bone & open a 2 inch hole almost to bone.
• Work knife back & forth until the pocket is almost the full size of chop. Set aside.
• Saute celery in melted oil/butter mixture for 3-4 minute. Add chopped onion and saute for 5-6 minutes more.
• Remove onions & celery with slotted spoon, reserving as much oil/butter combination as possible. Remove skillet from heat.
• Mix 1/2 of the goat cheese and the stripped leaves from 2 sprigs of the thyme with the celery & onion in a bowl & allow cheese to slightly melt from the heat of the vegetables.
• When mixture is cool enough to work with (3-5 minutes) divide stuffing evenly and stuff chops. Do not be afraid of over stuffing. Season both sides with salt & pepper.
• Return skillet to a medium-high heat and bring to temperature.
• Sear stuffed chops, turning once until browned on each side. About 2-3 minutes per side.
• Once chops are browned add the 1/2 cup of wine (adjust as necessary. the liquid should reach 1/2 way up the sides of the chops) and the remaining sprig of thyme.
• Immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
• Cook at simmer 30 minutes or until internal temp is 160.
• Once chops are done, remove & keep warm.
• Discard thyme sprig.
• Increase heat to high & add remaining goat cheese.
• Stir pan sauce constantly until reduced by half.
• Plate with kluski or egg noodles & green beans. Pour a generous amount of sauce over chops and reserve the rest for you and your partner.

PORK CHOPS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt 1 tbsp butter in 1 tsp olive oil in medium sized, oven proof sauce pan over medium/medium high heat.
• Add red onion. Let cook, stirring constantly for 20 minutes.
• While onions cook, mix 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp minced garlic, the 2 tbsp chicken broth and 1 tbsp olive oil in a small bowl.
• Add 2 tbsp of chicken broth to onions at a time, letting sizzle and cook away. Repeat until no broth remains.
• Butterfly pork chops and sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Spread goat cheese evenly inside each pork chop, leaving room around edges.
• Once onions are brown and caramelized, add a spoonful of onions to top of goat cheese in each pork chop. There will be onions remaining in the pan. Add lemon mixture to pan with onions and simmer, scraping down the sides of the pan.
• Close pork chops and dust with flour. If you are having trouble keeping them together, use toothpicks or mini skewers. However it is better if you can work without, as the escaped goat cheese comes in handy in the sauce later!
• Melt 1 tbsp butter in skillet over medium heat and cook pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side, until seared and brown.
• Put pork chops and any drippings into the pan with the simmering onion/lemon mixture and place in oven.
• Cook for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness, or until cooked through but still tender.
• Remove pan from oven and place back on medium low heat. Remove pork chops and whisk in heavy cream and let come to a bubble. Add parsley. Spoon over pork chops and enjoy!

PORK CHOP STUFFED W/ GOAT CHEESE, PECANS, CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Make a brine by combining the Kosher salt and water in a large bowl. Place the pork chops in the mixture and "brine" for 2 hours.
• Remove the chops from the liquid, and pat dry. Cut each pork chop horizontally in half to bone making a pocket for stuffing.
• Heat the butter in a heavy skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low., and cook the onions, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes or until they begin to caramelize.
• As the onions begin to caramelize you will need to add a tablespoon or two of water to deglaze the pan. You may need to do this several times during the caramelization process. The onions should turn golden brown after minutes of this. Remove from the heat and transfer to a medium bowl.
• Add the pecans and goat cheese to the onions and stir to combine. Refrigerate until mixture is completely cool, about 15 minutes.
• Insert stuffing into pockets in pork, dividing equally. Skewer pockets closed with toothpicks if necessary. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Grill pork until cooked through, about 6 minutes per side.

GOATS CHEESE STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH RED WINE BALSAMIC CHER

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, butterfly pork down the centre lengthwise being careful not to cut all the way through. Open pork out, using a meat mallet, pound to flatten to an even surface, do not over pound pork, season both sides of pork with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl combine cheese, basil and zest, until well mixed.
• Spoon mixture evenly over one half, remembering to leave enough of an edge, so when you fold over the other half so it covers cheese completely.
• Fold other half of pork over and secure with kitchen string at close intervals, place pork in a lightly oiled roasting pan and roast in pre-heated oven 180-190c for 45-55 Min's or until pork is cooked through.
• For The Sauce.
• Heat wine, water, balsamic and chicken stock, stir until almost boiling add cherry preserves, mix a little water with cornflour and add to sauce and stir until sauce thickens, add cherries and pepper to taste, stir until heated through and serve with pork.
• To Serve: Slice pork into thick slices and arrange on plate top with sauce. I served mine with twice baked parsnip mash and asparagus spears wrapped in bacon.
• Bon Appetit.
• 2-3 Servings depending on appetites.
• I serve this for 3.