Best Pickle Brined Pork Chops With Mushroom Escabeche And Smashed Potatoes Recipes

PICKLE JUICE-BRINED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Place the pork chops in shallow dish and pour the pickle juice over. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator, turning occasionally, for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Drain off and discard the brine. Pat the pork chops dry and season with salt and pepper.
• In a large cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat, warm the oil until shimmering but not smoking. If using the dill sprigs, press half onto 1 side of the pork chops. Place the pork chops, dill-side down, in the skillet and cook until browned and crisp on that first side, about 3 minutes. Press the rest of the dill on the top side of the pork chops and flip. Immediately transfer the skillet to the oven.
• Roast the pork chops for about 10 minutes, until the meat springs back when you give it a forceful poke with your finger, 145°F (60°C) on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion. The timing will vary somewhat depending on the thickness of your chops.
• Let the pork chops rest for 5 minutes before digging in.

CHERRY GLAZED PORK CHOPS WITH SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches below the heat source and preheat the broiler to high.
• Pierce the potatoes all over with a fork. Put the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate with 2 tablespoons water and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave until tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Carefully uncover, drain the potatoes and transfer them to a baking sheet. Top with 2 tablespoons olive oil and half the chopped thyme. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Smash each potato by pressing down with a metal spatula until it flattens. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Sear until golden brown on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side, about 2 minutes more (the pork chops will not be cooked through at this point). Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the shallot, dried cherries and the remaining thyme and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup water and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cherry jam and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer 2 tablespoons of the glaze and the remaining 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to make a vinaigrette. Set aside.
• Broil the potatoes until warm and golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Stir 2 tablespoons water into the remaining glaze in the skillet and bring to a simmer over high heat. Add the pork chops and any juices that have accumulated on the plate and turn over several times to coat with glaze. Return the pan to the oven and broil until the glaze is bubbly and thick and the pork chops are cooked through, about 2 minutes. (The pork chops should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F when measured with an instant-read thermometer.)
• Meanwhile, add the salad greens to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Transfer the pork chops to a serving dish and pour the remaining glaze on top. Serve with the smashed potatoes and salad.

PICKLE SCHNITZEL-PICKLE-BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET AND SPICY PEPPERS

Steps:

• Combine the pickle juice, pepper juice and pork chops in a large zipper-top bag. Brine at least overnight and at most 24 hours, flipping the bag halfway through.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the piquante peppers, bell peppers and onions with the olive oil in a bowl. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet and roast until slightly charred and soft, about 20 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Take the chops out of the bag (discard the brine) and dry them off with paper towels. Place a chop between plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until 1/2 inch thick. Make sure you pound around the bone but keep the bone intact; this adds flavor and plating dramatics. Repeat with the remaining chops.
• Set up an F. E. B. station with flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate shallow containers; season the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper. Season each chop with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour, coat with the egg and then coat in the breadcrumbs, ensuring the breadcrumbs adhere to all the nooks and crannies.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the vegetable oil and heat until very hot. Working in 2 batches, fry the chops 2 at a time until golden on each side, 4 to 5 minutes a side. Keep the chops warm on a wire-racked baking sheet in the oven while you repeat with the remaining chops.
• Plate each chop over a serving of the peppers and onions and serve with 2 lemon wedges to squeeze on top.

BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH SOFT PARMIGIANO POLENTA

Steps:

• For the brine:
• To make the brine: In a large container, add all of the ingredients and stir to combine. Submerse the pork chops in the brine and refrigerate for 3 days. After 3 days remove the chops from the brine, discarding the brine.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan. Roll the fat edge of each pork chop with the fennel pollen. Place porks chop gently on the preheated grill or grill pan. After 3 to 4 minutes rotate the chops 90 degrees to create lovely grill marks. Grill the chops for another 3 to 4 minutes and then turn over and repeat the process. If the chops seem to be burning move the chops to a cooler part of the grill to allow for longer cooking time without burning. Stand the chops up so the fat edge is in contact with the grill to crisp up the fat edge, this will also make the fennel pollen very aromatic. Remove the chops from the grill and let rest in a warm place before serving. The doneness of the meat should be about medium to medium well and very juicy. Serve with polenta.
• In a medium size saucepan, bring the milk, water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta for 30 to 40 minutes, adding water if the polenta becomes too thick to loosen it up.
• When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano and mascarpone. Serve it immediately, or place a sheet of plastic wrap right on the surface of the polenta to prevent a skin from forming on the top.
• To reheat: Add a little water to the polenta and heat over low to medium heat stirring constantly to prevent burning.

PORK CHOPS WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Season the pork chops with salt and pepper; sprinkle all over with 1 1/2 tablespoons flour. Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, add the chops and cook until golden and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side, adding 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet between batches. Transfer the chops to a plate and keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in the same skillet; add the mushrooms, garlic, scallion whites and a pinch of salt and cook, without stirring, until the mushrooms begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are soft, about 3 more minutes. Stir in the chicken broth and sour cream, bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy thickens, about 1 more minute.
• Divide the pork chops among plates. Drizzle any juices from the pork into the gravy; stir in the scallion greens and parsley. Season with salt and pepper; spoon over the pork. Serve with cornbread.