by Arlos » Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:09 am
This isn't a ghetto recipe, but IS awesome:
Here's what you're going to need:
4 Large, center-cut, thick bone-in pork chops, each about 12 ounces and 1.25-1.5" thick.
6 good sized cloves of garlic, peeled, then mashed with the flat edge of a knife.
1 large (or 2 small) red onion cut into 8 equal wedges.
2 large ripe pears, peeled & cored, also cut into 8 equal wedges.
Salt & Pepper.
3 tablespoons or so of Olive Oil.
1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 large frying pan that can be put into the oven. (or an oven pan you can use on the stovetop)
First, you put the pan onto medium heat, and add the oil, then the garlic. After 1-2 minutes, when the garlic barely starts to brown, add the pork chops to the pan, and cook them for 5-6 minutes til they brown sufficiently. Make sure to keep an eye on the garlic, if it starts getting too dark, remove it, and add it back in later.
Once the chops are done browning on one side, flip them over, then tuck in the onion wedges between and around the chops. Season the chops & onions with salt & pepper. About 2.5-3 minutes later, or roughly halfway through browning the 2nd side, add the pear wedges in the gaps between the chops with the onions.
While the chops are browning, mix the red wine vinegar in with the honey in a small bowl or mixing cup, and mix til the honey is entirely dissolved. Once the chops are done browning on the 2nd side, pour the honey/vinegar mixture into the pan, and make sure it comes to a boil. (there will be more liquid in the pan than just the vinegar mixture, trust me.) Add the garlic back in now if you took it out earlier.
Now, take the pan off the stove, and stick it into a 425 degree oven until the onions and pears are soft, or about 30 minutes or so. Once or twice during the roasting, carefully take the pan out of the oven, flip the chops and baste them with the liquid mixture in the bottom of the pan, and make sure the onions & pears are still well placed.
When it's done, the juices in the bottom of the pan should be a rich golden brown, and fairly syrupy in consistency. When done right, this is an awesome recipe. 1 chop easily feeds 1 person. The whole thing is a bit sour from the vinegar, has a bi of bite from the onion & garlic, and you've got sweet from the pears and honey.... Might want to serve it with some plain white rice, to spoon the vegetables/fruit & sauce over as well.
-Arlos
Last edited by
Arlos on Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:22 am, edited 1 time in total.