Milk Braised Pork Chops Lodge Cast Iron Food

MILK-BRAISED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Generously season pork chops with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 250 F.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet. Add chops and brown on both sides.
• Arrange chops in an 8 x 8-inch baking dish and add enough of the milk so it comes halfway up the sides of the meat. Add the whole garlic cloves and rubbed sage.
• Tightly cover baking dish with foil and place in the center of the oven. Cook for 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, turn chops over, re-cover, and return to oven for another 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, thoroughly mix together the butter and flour in a small bowl (this is called a beurre manié ).
• Set chops on a plate and keep warm. Pour the pan juices into a blender and puree until smooth.
• Pour the puree into a skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
• Add the beurre manié a bit at a time until it's all used, continuing to stir until thickened. Taste, adjust the seasonings, and serve over chops.

PORK LOIN BRAISED IN MILK

Steps:

• Combine the rosemary, sage, garlic, and salt and pepper in a small bowl and rub it all over the pork. Place the pork on a large plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a few hours.
• Place a medium heavy pan that will hold the roast somewhat snugly over medium heat and add the butter and oil. When the butter begins to foam, add the pork and cook, turning occasionally, until lightly golden on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes. (Keep your eyes on the butter so it doesn't burn and reduce the heat a bit if needed.)
• Add 1 cup of the milk and stir to loosen the browned bits attached to the bottom of the pan. As soon as the milk comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pan, and simmer until almost all the milk has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Add 1 more cup milk and continue cooking, basting and turning the meat a few times, until most of the milk has evaporated. Cook the pork in this manner, adding the milk 1/2 to 1 cup at a time, until it reads 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 hours. (The pork can be cooked up to this point 1 hour or so ahead. In that case, cook only until it reaches 155 degrees F, because it will keep on cooking as it sits in the hot pan juices.)
• Remove the lid and raise the heat to high. If no more milk is left in the pan, add 1/2 cup or so more. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to release the browned bits and turning the pork once or twice, until most of the milk has evaporated and the meat has a rich, golden brown color. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let it rest for about 10 minutes while you finish the sauce.
• Spoon off some of the fat from the pan. Add 1/3 cup water and stir quickly, over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the pan until only the brown glazed clusters of milk particles remain.
• Cut the meat into 1/2-inch thick slices and serve topped with a bit of the pan juices.

LOVELESS CAFE'S BRAISED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium high heat.
• Brown pork chops on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together mustard, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic salt with 1/3 cup water.
• Pour over pork chops. Reduce heat, cover, and cook until tender, about 1 hour.
• Transfer pork to a serving platter.
• Raise heat to medium-high and cook sauce until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Pour sauce over pork chops; garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

PORK CHOPS BRAISED IN MILK

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, pepper, granulated onion and garlic, and herb seasoning in a zip-lock bag, add chops, and shake to coat. Remove chops to a plate and transfer remaining flour mixture to a small bowl and stir well into that 1/2 C of the milk.
• In a skillet large enough to hold the chops without crowding, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat and brown the chops about 3 minutes on each side. After the first side is browned, turn the chops, add the minced garlic and sliced mushrooms and continue browning for the 3 minutes.
• Add the oregano and rosemary and the flour-milk mixture and stir well. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occassionally.
• Add the remaining milk, stir and cover again. Cook for another 30 minutes, stirring occassionally.
• Remove chops to platter and stir the remaining sauce well (it has a slightly curdled appearance which is lessened by further stirring). Continue cooking until the sauce reduces to the desired consistency. 5 minutes of cooking will yield about 1/2 C of thick gravy.
• Pour gravy over chops, or serve on the side for rice or potatoes. Sprinkle gravy with parsley or scallions, if desired.