Seared Pork Chops With Grape Sauce Food

PAN-SEARED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Brine: In a medium saucepan, bring water, salt, and maple sugar to a boil over high heat. Stir until dissolved, 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add ice to the concentrated brine, diluting and quickly chilling it so you can use it right away. (Alternately, add 3 cups cold water to the concentrated brine and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour before using.)
• Pork Chops: Three hours before you plan to cook the pork chops, place them in a gallon-size zip-top bag set in a bowl (for easy pouring and clean-up), then pour in the brine, making sure the chops are submerged. Seal, and chill in the refrigerator 2 hours.
• Remove pork chops from bag and discard brine. Dry chops well with paper towels. Allow meat 1 hour to come to room temperature (this will ensure even cooking). Season each chop on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and heat until rippling but not smoking, 2 minutes. Sear pork chops, 1 at a time, pressing the meat down with a heavy plate or bowl to get an even, golden sear on the bottom, 1-2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining oil and pork chops. Finish the chops by placing back in the pan, 2 at a time (for a 9-inch skillet). Turn off heat and add 3 tablespoons butter and a sprig of thyme. Tilt the pan and, using a long-handled spoon, baste the chops with the butter. Repeat with remaining chops and butter.
• Finish by placing all of the pork chops on the preheated baking sheet and roasting in the oven 3-5 minutes. Chops will be done when they're springy to the touch and the thickest part, near the bone, reaches 120 degrees F.
• Assembly: Transfer chops to a bed of thyme and tent lightly with foil to rest, 5-7 minutes. Remove tent, discard thyme, and serve.

SEARED PORK CHOPS WITH COCONUT RUM AND CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat skillet to medium high heat. Season pork chops liberally with salt and pepper. Add peanut oil to skillet and sear pork chops until golden brown on both sides. Remove pork chops from pan and put into a preheated 450 degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes, or until done to your likeness. In same skillet, add 2 tablespoons butter and when it starts to brown add pineapple and cook until edges start to caramelize. Now add brown sugar, mix thoroughly, then add shallots and garlic and bring to a simmer. Next add rum and flambe ingredients. When the flame dies down, add chicken stock and bring to another simmer and reduce liquid by 1/2. Add lime juice, tomato, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Add remaining butter to thicken sauce. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

SEARED PORK CHOP WITH FENNEL POLLEN, APPLE CIDER SAUCE, ROASTED DELICATA SQUASH, TUSCAN KALE, PANCETTA, FENNEL AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Fill a large container with water. Add the salt, sugar, fennel seeds, garlic, fennel tops and onion. Add the pork chops and allow to sit in the brine for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange the delicata rounds and butternut chunks on separate sheet trays. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Heat the apple cider in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook to reduce for 20 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken stock and continue to reduce for 20 minutes.
• Preheat a large cast-iron pan with some olive oil on medium-high heat. Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry. Sprinkle with the fennel pollen and salt. Place in the pan and sear until golden brown and it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Coat a high-sided saute pan with olive oil. Add the shallot and some salt and sweat over medium-high heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and cook until they start to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the warmed apple cider and remaining cup chicken stock and season with salt. Cook until slightly reduced, a few minutes, then add the golden raisins. Continue to reduce the sauce, adding a bit more chicken stock every so often, until the sauce is slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Finish the sauce with the butter.
• To a separate saute pan, add the pancetta and turn on the heat to medium. Slowly cook the pancetta, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crispy. Add the crushed red pepper flakes. Add the sliced fennel and kale and season with salt. Stir to combine, then add the apple cider vinegar. Add the roasted butternut squash and gently toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
• To plate: Plate two slices of roasted delicata squash. Top with the sauteed kale and butternut squash. Top with a pork chop, then another slice of delicata squash. Spoon the sauce over the top and garnish with the pepitas and fennel pollen. Repeat to make 3 more servings.

SEARED PORK CHOPS WITH GRILLED JALAPENO COMPOUND BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Put a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the vegetable oil and heat until hot.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle the pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the pork chops to the hot pan and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and put the whole pan in the oven to cook the pork until medium-rare, 140 degrees F, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Set the pork aside on a plate to rest 5 minutes and carry-over cook another 5 degrees. Top each chop with 2 slices of Grilled Jalapeno Compound Butter and serve.
• Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat.
• Skewer the jalapeno halves, weaving the skewer through like a needle. Drizzle with vegetable oil and season with salt. Put skin-side down on the grill over direct heat. Grill until charred on all sides and the skins start to bubble and char, about 1 1/2 minutes total. Put the jalapenos in a mason jar and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, scrape off the skins and finely chop the jalapenos. Set aside.
• To a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the butter and beat on medium speed until creamy. Add the honey, lime zest and 2 teaspoons salt, mixing until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and fold in the chopped jalapenos.
• Lay out a piece of parchment paper the size of a baking sheet and add the compound butter to the short side of the paper. Fold the parchment over and form the butter into a log, folding over the edges to completely cover. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Remove from the parchment and sliced as desired.

SKILLET PORK CHOPS WITH BLISTERED GRAPES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high. Pat the chops dry with paper towels, and season well with salt and pepper. Cook the chops until just cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Add the grapes to the skillet, and sauté until brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to the plate. Reduce the heat to medium-high. Add the shallot and garlic, and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and thyme, and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the white wine and cook, stirring, until mostly evaporated, about 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and mustard, and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the chops, grapes and any accumulated juices back into the skillet, and cook just until everything is warmed through, about 3 minutes.

PAN-SEARED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Combine the salt and pepper and dried thyme and rub on the pork chops. Press a sprig of thyme into each chop. Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and add the pork chops, thyme-side down. Sear 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until just browned and the interior is no longer bright pink. Transfer to a warm plate.
• Pour off the fat from the skillet, return to the heat, add the stock and wine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Spoon the sauce over the pork chops and serve.