Pork Chops And Squash With Pumpkin Seed Vinaigrette Recipe Epicuriouscom Food

GRILLED PUMPKIN BBQ-GLAZED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• For the pumpkin bbq sauce: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until tender and transluscent, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the ketchup, pumpkin puree, broth, sugar, syrup, vinegar, chili powder, Worcestershire, garlic powder, smoked paprika, pumpkin pie spice, salt and pepper and whisk well to combine. Bring to a low simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let cook until thickened, 20 to 30 minutes. If it begins to look too thick, add a few tablespoons of water or broth.
• For the pork chops: Preheat a grill or grill pan for cooking over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the pork chops generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Brush the chops on each side with vegetable oil and grill, 4 minutes per side. Baste the pork chops on each side with the sauce and grill an additional minute per side to allow the sauce to caramelize. Serve the chops with extra sauce.

PUMPKIN PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl; mix pumpkin, honey, Lawry's, red pepper flakes, ginger, allspice, cider vinegar, broth, and celery.
• Melt and spread the butter in an 8X11 glass baking dish then place pork chops in it.
• Pour pumpkin mix over the chops.
• Bake chops for 30 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

BARBECUE PORK KEBABS WITH BLISTERED-CHILE-PUMPKIN SEED SALSA

Steps:

• Make the salsa:
• Cook onion and jalapeños over a gas burner, turning often, until charred and beginning to soften, about 4 minutes (alternatively, cook in a hot dry medium skillet, preferably cast iron). Let cool. Finely chop onion. Remove seeds from chiles and finely chop. Toss onion, chiles, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, oil, and lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt.
• Make the pork kebabs:
• Freeze pork until very firm around the edges, 20-30 minutes. Slice 1/4" thick, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2"-2" strips if needed. Cover and chill until ready to grill.
• Mix brown sugar, mustard powder, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl to combine.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off). Oil grates. Thread pork onto 6-8 skewers, folding and piling onto itself to form a compact shape. Season with salt, then sprinkle generously with brown sugar mixture in several passes, allowing a few minutes between each for rub to adhere. Grill over direct heat, turning every minute or so, until browned and beginning to char in spots, about 4 minutes. Move to cooler side of grill and continue to grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Serve pork topped with salsa.
• Do Ahead
• Salsa can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Dry rub can be made 1 month ahead; store airtight at room temperature.

PORK WITH PUMPKIN-SEED SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir pumpkin seeds in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until golden and beginning to pop, about 8 minutes. Cool. Reserve 2 tablespoons seeds in bowl. In blender, mix 7 tablespoons pumpkin seeds and half each of lettuce, onion, cilantro, chilies, garlic, radish leaves and broth. Blend to smooth puree. Transfer to large bowl. Repeat with 7 tablespoons pumpkin seeds and remaining lettuce, onion, cilantro, chilies, garlic, radish leaves and broth. Pour into same large bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add puree; boil until slightly thickened, stirring often, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium; cover partially. Simmer puree until reduced to thick sauce, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork; brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Place skillet in oven; roast pork until thermometer inserted into center registers 150°F, about 45 minutes. Transfer pork to cutting board; let stand 10 minutes. Reserve pan juices.
• Slice pork thinly; place on platter. Re-warm sauce, adding pan juices; spoon sauce over pork. Top with reserved seeds.
• *Also known as pepitas. Available at Latin American markets, natural foods stores and many supermarkets.

SAGE AND BALSAMIC PORK CHOPS WITH CREAMY PUMPKIN POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Preheat a large, oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of the EVOO (twice around the pan). In a shallow dish, combine the balsamic, sage, parsley, garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon of EVOO, salt, and pepper. Coat the pork chops and then place them in the skillet and sear the meat on both sides to caramelize, about 2 minutes on each side. Transfer the skillet to the oven to finish off, about 8 minutes, or until the meat is firm to the touch but not tough.
• While the chops are cooking, in a sauce pot combine the chicken stock, milk, and pumpkin and season with the nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Place over high heat and bring up to a simmer. Whisk in the polenta and stir until it begins to mass together. Add the grated cheese and butter, stirring to combine. Keep in mind that polenta is very forgiving. If it becomes too thick, not smooth and creamy, you can always add more warm chicken stock or milk.
• Serve the polenta alongside the sage and balsamic pork chops with steamed vegetables. Garnish the polenta with a little extra grated or shaved cheese.

PORK CHOPS WITH SQUASH AND SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Combine 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 4 sage leaves in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring, until the sugar and salt dissolve. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and add 5 cups cold water. Submerge the pork chops in the brine and refrigerate 10 minutes.
• Chop 3 sage leaves; set aside. Toss the remaining 5 sage leaves with the squash, 2 tablespoons olive oil, the nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the pork and pat dry. Add to the skillet and cook until a meat thermometer inserted sideways into the center registers 140 degrees F, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Divide among 4 plates.
• Add the chicken broth and the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar to the skillet; simmer, stirring, until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice, the reserved chopped sage, and salt to taste. Drizzle the pork with the sauce and serve with the squash.

PORK CHOPS AND SQUASH WITH PUMPKIN SEED VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Spread out pumpkin seeds on a large rimmed baking sheet. Toast, tossing once, until just beginning to darken, about 4 minutes. Let cool. Coarsely chop; set aside.
• Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil on a large rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast squash, turning occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 35-40 minutes.
• When squash has been roasting for 30 minutes, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper and cook until brown, 5-8 minutes. Turn over and cook until pork is cooked through, about 3 minutes longer.
• Whisk garlic, 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 2 tablespoons lime juice, reserved toasted pumpkin seeds, and remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a small bowl to combine. Season vinaigrette with salt, pepper, and more lime juice, if desired.
• Divide squash and pork among plates; spoon vinaigrette over. Top with cilantro leaves.