Pork Chops With Wedge Salad Food

PORK CHOPS WITH BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk 2 cups cold water, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon each sugar and salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Prick the pork a few times with a fork, then soak in the brine 15 minutes; remove and pat dry. Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the green and wax beans and cook until crisp-tender, 4 minutes. Add the bell pepper and corn; cook 1 minute. Drain the vegetables, rinse under cold water and pat dry. Transfer to a bowl and add the kidney beans. Season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until golden, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Wipe out the skillet; heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook 3 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar and cook until absorbed. Whisk in 1/2 cup water, half of the parsley, the mustard, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and salt to taste. Simmer 3 minutes, then toss with the vegetables. Add the remaining parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Photograph by Christopher Testani

LADD'S CHOPPED WEDGE SALAD

Steps:

• Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp, about 7 minutes. Drain on a paper towel. Chop into small pieces.
• Arrange the chopped iceberg on a small platter, then sprinkle over the grated mozzarella and chopped bacon. Drizzle with the Italian Ranch Dressing and finish with the pepper.
• Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, Parmesan, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, salt, pepper and lemon zest and juice in a food processor. Process until well combined.

PORK CHOPS WITH CELERY AND ALMOND SALAD

Steps:

• Combine cranberries and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside.
• Season pork generously with salt, then rub with 1 Tbsp. oil total. Heat a dry medium skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Cook pork chops, moving once or twice to hotter areas of skillet, until first side is deeply browned, 6-9 minutes. Turn pork chops and cook until second sides are browned, about 5 minutes. Working one at a time, set chops on fatty side with tongs to melt and brown fat cap, about 1 minute each. At this point an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of each chop should register 135°F.
• Add thyme, garlic, and butter to skillet and swirl to melt butter. Tilt skillet toward you so butter pools in the pan and spoon foaming butter over chops continuously until butter is browned, about 1 minute. Transfer pork chops, thyme, and garlic to a cutting board and let meat rest while you assemble the salad.
• Combine shallot and a couple of pinches of salt in a large bowl. Pour vinegar from reserved cranberries into bowl. Whisking constantly, gradually add remaining 3 Tbsp. oil. Add cranberries, celery, parsley, almonds, Parmesan, and several pinches of salt; toss to combine.
• Cut along bones to remove meat from pork chops; slice meat 1/2" thick. Transfer meat and bones to a platter along with garlic and thyme, then drizzle any accumulated juices left on cutting board over top. Serve with salad.

PORK CHOP LAYERED SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• For the pork chops: Combine the salt, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder and black pepper in a small bowl. Season the pork chops on both sides with the spice mixture, cover with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• For the blue cheese dressing: Meanwhile, whisk the sour cream, milk, mayonnaise, lemon zest and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Fold in the blue cheese so the crumbles do not come apart. Refrigerate the dressing until you serve the salad.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat, then add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan; heat. Add the pork chops and cook until golden brown on both sides and a meat thermometer reads 145 degrees F., 6 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and let rest 5 minutes.
• For the layered salad: Heat a medium cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook, turning once, until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain on a paper towel- lined plate and crumble.
• To assemble the salad: Slice the pork chops 1 1/2-inches thick. Put a layer of lettuce in the bottom of the trifle dish, then layer in the spinach, grape tomatoes, onion, hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon and peas in that order. Repeat the layers and then top with the pork chops. Serve with the blue cheese dressing.