Best Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops Recipes

CRANBERRY-APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserve the soaking water. In a mini-processor process the fruit with the nuts, butter, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small sealable plastic bag or pastry bag. Snip about a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the plastic bag. With a small paring knife, make a pocket starting from rounded side of each chop. Set the tip of the bag inside the pocket and press a quarter of the stuffing into the chop. Repeat with the remaining chops and filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat the chops dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown one side of the chops, until well browned about 5 minutes. Use tongs to hold the chops and sear the edges of the chops. Turn and brown the other sides of the chops, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 135 degrees F, about 15 minutes. While the chops are in the oven make the sauce. Drain the oil from the saute pan. Off the heat, add the Calvados and the remaining shallots. Return the pan to the heat, taking care since the alcohol may flambe, and cook over high heat until the alcohol is reduced by half and is slightly syrupy. Add the broth and the fruit soaking liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduce by about a third. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet to the sauce. Divide the chops among 4 warm plates or a large platter. Pour on the sauce and serve.

STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• For glaze, combine honey and Dijon mustard in a small saucepan.
• Stir in apricot preserves and vinegar.
• Heat and stir mixture until preserves is melted.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• For stuffing, In a saucepan, add chicken broth, green onions and ginger.
• Bring to a boil and add the acini de pepe.
• Cook, uncovered for about 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• (you may need to add a little more broth).
• Remove from heat.
• Fold in apricots, 2 TB of the honey glaze and the celery.
• Cut a pocket in each pork chop
• Spoon about 3 TB stuffing into each chop.
• Fasten pockets with toothpicks.
• Spoon remaining stuffing onto a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Fold securely, leaving space for steam to build.
• Set aside.
• In a covered grill, place chops on a hot grill off to the side, NOT directly over the coals.
• Cover and grill for approximately 25 minutes, basting often with honey glaze, turning chops after about 10 minutes.
• Place foil packets of stuffing on grill next to the chops but not over the coals and grill along with the chops. Pork chops should have an internal temperature of the 145 degrees.

APPLE AND APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Cut a deep horizontal pocket into each chop. In a med. skillet, cook onion and celery in oil until crisp and tender. Add bread crumbs, oats, apple, raisins, brown sugar, ginger and 2 tbsp. of the preserves; mix well. Stuff each pork chop with about 1/4 c. of the stuffing mixture. Place in an ungreased 13 x 9 baking dish; cover. Bake 325 for 45 min. Uncover, spread top of chops with remaining 2 tbsp. preserves. Bake uncovered an additional 15-20 min. or until pork chops are tender.

APRICOT-STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Cut pocket in each chop (or have it done by the butcher), cutting from fat side almost to bone edge. Season cavity with a little salt and pepper.
• Drain apricots, reserving 1/2 cup syrup.
• Place 2 apricot halves in pocket of each chop. Secure opening with toothpicks which have been soaked in water.
• Refrigerate chops until ready to cook.
• Chop remaining apricots; set aside.
• In a small saucepan, saute onions in oil over medium heat until onions are translucent.
• Add reserved chopped apricots, apricot syrup, ketchup, dry mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Grill chops over medium coals 35 minutes, turning once.
• Brush sauce over chops while they are grilling.
• Serve remaining sauce with meal.