Best Pork Chops Braised With Wine Prunes And Apricots Recipes

HONEY APRICOT PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels, and sprinkle both sides with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, and brown the chops well on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
• Stir in honey, apricots, and garlic; cover, and simmer until the pork is tender, about 8 minutes. An instant-read thermometer, inserted into the center of a chop, should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Sprinkle with parsley, and serve chops topped with the apricots and pan juices.

BRAISED PORK LOIN WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in 5-quart pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl and reserve pot.
• Simmer prunes and Armagnac in a 1- to 2-quart saucepan 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Make a hole for stuffing: Insert a long thin sharp knife into middle of one end toward center of loin, then repeat at opposite end to make an incision that runs lengthwise through roast. Enlarge incision with your fingers, working from both ends, to create a 3/4-inch-wide opening.
• Pack about 20 prunes into pork, pushing from both ends toward center (reserve remaining Armagnac and prunes). Pat pork dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Wrap parsley, thyme, sage, bay leaf, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth and tie into a bundle with kitchen string.
• Brush pork with mustard, then evenly coat with brown sugar. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in reserved pot over high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown meat on all sides (not ends), reducing heat if necessary to keep from burning, about 6 minutes total.
• Transfer pork with tongs to a plate, then add white wine and reserved Armagnac (but not prunes) to pot. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
• Add broth, onions, and cheesecloth bundle to pot with Armagnac mixture, then add pork with any juices accumulated on plate and turn pork fat side up. Bring to a boil over high heat, covered, then transfer to oven and braise 30 minutes.
• Add remaining prunes and braise until thermometer inserted diagonally 2 inches into meat (avoid stuffing) registers 150°F, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer pork to a cutting board and cut off and discard string, then cover with heavy-duty foil (temperature of pork will rise as it stands).
• While pork stands, skim fat from surface of sauce (if necessary) and remove and discard cheesecloth bundle, then stir in vinegar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste.

BRAISED PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking, in it brown the pork chops, patted dry and seasoned with salt and pepper, and transfer them to a plate. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and in it cook the shallot, the cumin, the ground coriander, the zest, and the gingerroot over moderately low heat, stirring, until the shallot is softened. Add the wine, the broth, and the apricots, bring the liquid to a simmer, and in it braise the pork chops, covered, over moderately low heat for 20 minutes, or until they are tender. Transfer the chops to a serving plate with a slotted spatula and keep them warm. In a small bowl stir together well the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter, softened, and the flour until the mixture is well combined, add the beurre manié to the braising liquid, and bring the sauce to a boil, stirring. Simmer the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it is thickened, stir in the fresh coriander and salt and pepper to taste, and pour the sauce over the pork chops.

PORK CHOPS WITH WINE AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops and sear them until they're nice and golden, about 2 minutes per side. (No need to completely cook the chops at this point.) Remove the chops from the skillet and set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium high, then throw in the whole cloves of garlic. Stir them around and cook until they get nice and golden brown, a couple minutes. Pour in the red wine, then add the bay leaf. Stir it around and cook, raising the heat if necessary, until the sauce is reduced and thick, several minutes.
• Stir in the beef broth (you can add more if it needs the liquid) and add the chops back to the skillet, arranging them so they're swimming in the sauce. Cook the chops in the sauce for a few minutes, then add the balsamic. Shake the skillet to get it to distribute, then cook for a couple more minutes, or until the pork chops are done.
• Remove the chops from the skillet once more, then let the sauce reduce a little more if needed, until it's very thick and rich and the garlic is soft. Swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and sprinkle in a little salt and pepper.
• Arrange the pork chops on a platter, then pour the whole skillet of sauce (including the garlic) over the top. Serve with Lemony Green Beans if desired.
• Snap off the stem ends of the green beans or cut them off in a big bunch with a knife.
• Heat a pan over a medium heat and add the butter. (It helps to use a pan with a light-colored bottom, so you can keep track of the color.) Swirl the pan occasionally so the butter cooks evenly. As the butter melts, it will begin to foam. The color will progress from lemony yellow to golden tan to, finally, a toasty brown.
• Once you smell that nutty aroma, add the green beans and saute for 3 to 4 minutes so the beans take on a little color. Add the lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper, then transfer to a platter in batches with tongs.

CROCK POT PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOTS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown pork chops.
• Transfer to crock pot.
• Add onions, garlic, apricots and prunes to pork chops.
• Whisk together orange juice, chicken stock, cumin, paprika, coriander, cinnamon, salt and pepper; add to crock pot.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or until meat is tender.
• Remove pork chops to plate and keep warm.
• Increase heat to High; cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.
• Serve with chops.

PORK CHOPS BRAISED WITH WINE, PRUNES AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• 1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add half of the pork chops; cook until brown - approx. 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining pork chops.
• 2. Drain all but 2 tbsp. oil and add sliced onions. Saute until light brown, about 5 minutes
• 3. Place chops over onions - add broth and wine. Bring to a simmer - then reduce heat to medium low and cover. Simmer about 15. Add fruit; cover and simmer until pork is very tender, about 45 minutes.
• 4. Using a slotted spoon, arrange onions and fruit around pork chops. Tent with foil to keep warm.
• 5. Boil cooking liquid until thickened slightly, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over pork and top with chopped fresh parsley.