STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH GORGONZOLA AND APPLE

Stuffed Pork Chops with Gorgonzola and Apple image

This is a full-flavored, pungent, yet subtle special occasion dish. We served the meal with diced, spiced new potatoes with chopped onions baked in foil for 40 minutes, and a Caesar salad.

Provided by Richard D. Jehn

Categories Main Dish Recipes Pork Pork Chop Recipes Stuffed

Time 1h45m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
½ tablespoon dried thyme
½ cup chopped Granny Smith apples
ground black pepper to taste
¼ cup Gorgonzola cheese at room temperature, crumbled
2 thick cut pork chops
½ teaspoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup Gorgonzola cheese
3 tablespoons dry sherry
⅛ cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
To make the apple stuffing: In a saute pan or skillet on medium heat, melt the butter and saute thyme, chopped apples, salt and pepper together until the apples are completely softened; about 15 to 20 minutes.
Place the apple mixture in a bowl and mix in 1/4 cup Gorgonzola cheese. The cheese should liquefy into the stuffing within a couple of minutes.
To prepare the pork chops: Butterfly the pork chops by slicing them parallel to the plane of the chop from the fat side to the bone. Stuff each one with about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the apple mixture.
Bake the chops for about 1 hour. Place the chops on a rack with the two stuffing sides pressed together to hold the stuffing inside the chops.
To make the sauce: Heat the oil in a saute pan or skillet on medium heat, then saute the garlic until transparent, and the cheese until slightly melting. Immediately add the sherry, let cook for a minute until combined, then add the cream and 1/4 cup of the chicken stock, salt and pepper. Stir until well blended. Stir occasionally and reduce the liquid on medium high heat until the sauce begins to toast/caramelize and turn darker brown. Add the remaining 1/4 cup chicken stock, reincorporate the cheese and continue reducing until there is just 1/4 to 1/2 cup of thick liquid remaining.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 420.4 calories, Carbohydrate 9.4 g, Cholesterol 117.7 mg, Fat 30.8 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 23.5 g, SaturatedFat 17.1 g, Sodium 623.3 mg, Sugar 3.4 g