Cast Iron Pork Chops With Nectarine Pico De Gallo Recipes

CAST-IRON SKILLET PROVENCAL PORK CHOPS AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Drain the potatoes. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to become tender and are just beginning to brown around the edges, about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the pork chops with salt and pepper. Move the potatoes to the far edge of the pan, leaving a space to brown the pork chops. Add the pork chops to the pan and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. As the pork chops cook, give the potatoes an occasional stir so they continue to brown evenly. Place the pork chops on top of the potatoes, shingling them to leave as much room in the pan as possible. Reduce the heat to low and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the bare area of the pan. Add the olives, capers, garlic and thyme and cook, stirring continuously, until fragrant and golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium, add the tomatoes and wine and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes, then stir in the chicken broth. Put the pork chops in the sauce and carefully nestle the potatoes around them. Cook 3 to 5 minutes more until the pork chops register 145 degrees F in the center on an instant-read thermometer. Remove the pork chops from the sauce and transfer to shallow bowls or a serving platter. Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. If most of the liquid in the pan evaporates while you are cooking the pork, stir in tablespoons of water at a time to get it back to a saucy consistency. If the sauce is a little thin and weak, after you take the chops out, turn the heat up and cook 1 to 2 minutes more to thicken and concentrate the flavors. Stir the parsley into the sauce, remove the thyme sprigs, spoon the sauce over the chops and serve.

CAST IRON SKILLET PORK CHOPS WITH DIJON SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Blot pork chops on each side with a paper towel to absorb any moisture. Score the fat along the side on each chop so they don't curl. Season both sides of each chop with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook pork chops in the hot skillet until a nice crust is formed, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a chop should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).
• While pork chops are baking, pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Add onion and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of wine and bring to a boil. Let wine reduce by half, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Stir in remaining wine and chicken broth. Bring back to a boil and reduce by half.
• Pour in cream; bring back to a boil and cook until reduced and thickened. To test for thickness, remove a spoonful of sauce and run a finger through it. If a clear path is left, the sauce is ready. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter and Dijon mustard. Stir in parsley.
• Remove chops from the oven, top with sauce, and serve.

GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH FRESH NECTARINE SALSA

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil grate, and set 4 inches from the heat.
• To make the salsa, place the nectarines, tomato, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and red pepper flakes in a bowl; toss to blend. Season to taste with salt. Cover, and refrigerate 30 minutes to blend flavors.
• Stir the cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Place the olive oil in a small bowl. Brush the pork chops with oil, and season both sides evenly with the cumin mixture.
• Place pork loin chops on the preheated grill. Cook until lightly browned and juices run clear, about 4 minutes on each side. Place pork chops on serving plates, and top with a generous spoonful of salsa.

SPICY HONEY-GLAZED GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH PEACH PICO DE GALLO

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from pork chops. Pat dry and season both sides with salt. Set aside.
• Mix red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ½ tsp. cumin seeds, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl to combine. Heat honey in a small saucepan over medium just until warm. Remove pan from heat and stir in spice mixture. Set spiced honey aside.
• Toss peaches, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, remaining ½ tsp. cumin seeds, and remaining 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1 tsp. Morton kosher salt in a medium bowl to combine. Chill peach pico de gallo until ready to serve.
• Prepare a grill for 2-zone heat (for a charcoal grill, bank two thirds of coals on one side of grill and scatter remaining coals on other side; for a gas grill, set one burner to high heat and remaining burners to medium-low); oil grate. Grill reserved chops on hotter side of grill, moving to cooler side as needed to control flare-ups, until lightly charred on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Move pork chops to cooler side of grill, cover, and grill, turning often and basting with reserved spiced honey, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of pork chops registers 145°, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer pork chops to a platter and let rest 10 minutes.
• Spoon peach pico de gallo over pork chops just before serving.