Best Sweet Tea Brined Pork Chops With Pepper Relish Recipes

SWEET TEA-MARINATED PORK CHOP SANDWICH

Steps:

• Working one at a time, put the pork chops between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with the flat side of a meat mallet to a 1/4 inch thickness. Combine the pork chops and sweet tea in a container, cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Pour enough oil into a large, heavy skillet to come 1 inch up the sides (or use a deep fryer). Heat the oil over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 325 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, combine the flour, pepper, seasoning salt and garlic in a shallow bowl or plate and mix to blend well. Pour the milk into a shallow bowl. Remove the pork chops from the tea; discard the tea. Dip the pork in the milk, then dredge in the seasoned flour to coat thoroughly. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Place the pork chops on the heels of the hamburger buns and top each with tomato, onion and lettuce. Cover with the top half of the buns and serve with the desired condiments.

CIDER-BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH PERFECT PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the brine: combine the salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, coriander, mustard seeds, allspice berries, bay leaves, thyme and 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar and salt, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour in the cold cider. Let the brine cool to room temperature.
• Put the pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag and pour in the brine. Press out excess air and seal tightly. Put the bag in a shallow container so it can lay flat and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Drain the chops, rinse and pat dry. Discard the brine.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chops (work in batches if necessary; do not crowd the pan) and cook, turning occasionally, until they are golden brown and cooked through, 13 to 14 minutes. (If the chops are browning too quickly or the pan drippings start to burn, lower the heat.) Remove to a plate.
• For the sauce: Discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and place over medium heat. Add the garlic, rosemary and thyme and cook until sizzling, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to make a paste. Whisk in the cider and bring to a simmer.
• Simmer until very thick, about 1 minute. Add the stock, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the cream and simmer to bring the sauce together, about 1 minute. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, vinegar and parsley. Season to taste with salt. Add the chops to the pan and simmer, turning occasionally, until just heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs.

PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET AND HOT PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Season chops with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil to pan -- 1 turn of the pan. Add chops and cook 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil. Return pan to heat and add more extra-virgin olive oil and bell peppers. Saute, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add hot cherry peppers and a splash of their brine to the pan, cook a minute. Add wine or stock and scrape up pan drippings. Arrange peppers over chops and serve.

GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH ONION AND BELL PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• To make the relish: In a straight-sided skillet, saute the onions and bell peppers in the oil until onions are translucent. Add the vinegar, sugar, and port wine, and cook at a very low heat until liquid evaporates. Onions and peppers should still be a little firm to the bite but sweet and caramelized. Set aside.
• To cook the pork: Prepare the grill for grilling chops: high heat on left side, medium heat on right side. Drizzle the chops with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chops on the grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, using a inverted baking pan to keep chops covered during cooking. Move the chops to the right side of the grill and continue cooking over medium heat. Cook 4 minutes and then turn chops over to finish cooking, keeping covered for an additional 4 minutes. Cook to 150 degrees F internal temperature.
• Serve with the relish.

PEPPERCORN PORK CHOPS WITH WARM PICKLED PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• Place all peppercorns on a cutting board and use the flat bottom of a heavy pan to crush them as finely or coarsely as you like. Transfer crushed pepper into the pan.
• Make 3 cuts through the fat on each pork chop and season generously with salt. Apply a generous coating of crushed peppercorns to both sides, pressing into the meat firmly as you do, until fully coated.
• Transfer chops to a rack set over a pan and let sit out at room temperature for 1 hour, turning halfway through and reapplying crushed peppercorns as necessary. Or, place in the refrigerator for 4 to 12 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare the pepper relish while the chops are dry-brining: combine poblano pepper, orange and red bell peppers, garlic, salt, cayenne, and rice vinegar. Mix to combine and cover with plastic wrap. Leave on the counter for 1 hour.
• Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat until very hot and starting to shimmer. Add pork chops and sear for 5 minutes per side. Use tongs to turn chops while you brown the edges for another 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium if the pan is too hot and begins to smoke. Chops should firm up and spring back to the touch. Do not overcook. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Turn off the heat and transfer chops to a plate. Cover loosely with foil and let rest.
• Add chicken broth to the hot pan. Turn heat to high and bring to a rolling boil. Add pickled pepper relish and stir with a spoon, scraping all the bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until liquid in the pan reduces by about half, about 3 minutes.
• Turn off the heat. Add cold butter and any accumulated juices from the plate of pork and stir until butter has melted.
• Serve pork chops with plenty of hot pickled pepper relish over top.