Grilled Veal Or Pork Chops With Marsala Fig Sauce Lemon Ricotta Orzo Celery And Mushroom Salad Food

GRILLED VEAL CHOPS WITH RAW SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the tomatoes, basil, parsley, red onion, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and about 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Allow the tomatoes to sit for 10 minutes so that the salt will leach out the juice of the tomatoes.
• Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium high-high heat. Drizzle 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it, on a plate. Place chops on plate and turn in extra-virgin olive oil using tongs and season both sides liberally with salt and pepper. Once the grill pan or grill is screaming hot, add the chops and cook on the first side for 5 minutes. Resist the temptation to move the chops around, you want nice grill markings and a good crust on them. Before flipping the chops, reduce the heat to medium or move chops a little off to the side on an outdoor grill for more indirect heat. Flip and cook them on the second side for 7 to 8 minutes, remove the chops and let them rest covered with a tented piece of aluminum foil for about 5 minutes.
• Once the chops are cooked and rested, add the spinach and olives to the tomatoes and toss to coat. Serve the salad on or alongside the chops and spoon out some of the tomato balsamic juice from the bottom of the salad bowl to top each chop.

CREAMY LEMON-PEPPER ORZO WITH CHICKEN AND FIG SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt, 2 teaspoons of the oil, the garlic, lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and preheat an outdoor or indoor grill to medium heat.
• Rub the chicken thighs with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until nicely marked and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board at let stand for at least 5 minutes.
• Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook according to package directions for al dente, stirring in the peas the last minute of cooking. Drain the orzo and peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Stir the orzo and peas into the yogurt mixture, along with half of the goat cheese, 3 tablespoons of the herbs and at least three-quarters of the reserved cooking liquid, until well combined. Evenly divide among four plates.
• Thinly slice the chicken and arrange on top of the orzo. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon fresh herbs. Toss the salad greens, figs and vinaigrette together, divide evenly among four small salad plates. Sprinkle each with some of the remaining goat cheese. Serve.

PARMESAN PORK CHOPS WITH ARUGULA-FIG SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet (reserve the skillet).
• Mix the parmesan, oregano, lemon zest and garlic in a small bowl. Sprinkle on the pork chops. Bake until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the figs and 3 tablespoons water to the reserved skillet. Cook over medium-low heat until the figs are soft and most of the water has evaporated, about 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a large bowl and add the arugula, fennel, croutons, the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and the lemon juice; toss. Serve with the pork.

GRILLED VEAL CHOPS WITH SAGE JUS

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot charcoal fire. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy skillet on low. Add garlic and sage leaves and cook very slowly for 30 minutes. Season veal chops with salt and pepper and brush with a little olive oil. Grill until medium-rare, about 15 minutes, turning once.
• Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy frying pan on high. Add chops and sear until just pink inside, 5 minutes more, turning once. Remove chops to 4 warmed dinner plates. Deglaze pan with stock or water and reduce over high heat to 1/2 cup of liquid, scraping bottom of pan to incorporate any browned bits. Reduce heat and add garlic-sage oil to the pan. Cook for 1 minute and adjust seasoning to taste. Strain jus over each chop and serve garnished with fresh sage leaves.