Chile Glazed Pork Chops With Fresh Tomatillo Sauce Recipes

CHILE-GLAZED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Red Chile Adobo Paste: Remove the seeds and veins from the chiles. Heat a skillet over medium heat and roast the chiles on both sides until they begin to release their aroma and soften a bit, about 1 minute (As soon as you begin to smell them, they are ready. If you hesitate, they will have a bitter taste).
• Transfer to a blender and fill with boiling water. Allow the chiles to soak for 30 minutes, making sure to keep them submerged under water. (You may need to wedge the blender top into the opening to help keep the chiles under water.)
• Roast the garlic on the same pan used to toast the chiles over medium heat, turning often until the skin blackens and the garlic begins to smell toasty, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and peel. Set aside.
• Pour the water out of the blender jar, leaving behind the rehydrated chiles. Add the garlic along with cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin, pepper, oregano, salt, and vinegar and puree until smooth. (You may need to pulse and scrape down the mixture a few times to get the puree started.).
• Marinate the Pork Chops: Slather both sides of the pork chops with the chile paste and place in a large resealable plastic bag. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes (and up to a few hours).
• Sear the Pork Chops: Leave a light coating of the chile paste on the pork chops and season with salt and pepper. Place a large, well seasoned cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the pork chops in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes on each side, or until the meat turns golden brown.
• Braise in Beer: Pour in enough beer to barely cover the chops. Cover the pan ( with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan if your pan does not have a lid) and decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Turn the pork chops over and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Reduce the Liquid to a Glaze: Uncover the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Alow the liquid to reduce almost completely, flipping the pork chops over every few minutes to ensure that both sides become glazed with the reduced sauce. This should take about 10 minutes. Serve warm.

MEXICAN CHILE PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan set over high heat, add 1 cup water, the agave, 2 tablespoons salt, the cumin, cracked black pepper, garlic, oregano, 2 of the anchos, 1 of the chipotles, 2 of the guajillos, the beer and limes. Cook, stirring, until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat, add the ice, and stir until cool. Pour the brine into a large, resealable plastic bag and add the pork chops. Seal the bag and refrigerate for up to 1 hour.
• Preheat the grill to high heat and wipe the grates down carefully with some oiled paper towels to clean and create a nonstick surface.
• In a dry skillet set over medium-high heat add the remaining 1 ancho, 2 chipotles and 1 guajillo chile. Cook the chiles until fragrant and lightly charred, 1 to 2 minutes. Place the chiles in a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. In a small bowl, add the chile powder, cumin, granulated garlic, sugar, paprika, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon salt, the mustard and ground black pepper. Mix to combine, and set aside.
• Remove the pork chops from the brine, then pat dry and brush with the canola oil. Coat evenly all over with the spice rub. Grill the pork chops for 2 1/2 minutes. Rotate the chops 90 degrees and cook another 2 1/2 minutes to create crosshatch sear marks. Flip the chops over and repeat the same process on the second side. Move the chops to an area of the grill with medium heat and continue cooking until cooked through and an internal thermometer inserted in the chops reads 145 degrees F for medium doneness, 7 to 8 minutes. Rest the chops for 5 to 7 minutes for the juices to redistribute.
• Serve the pork chops with the Grilled Green Chile Sauce spooned over the top and garnish with Pico De Gallo.
• In a large bowl, add the hatch chiles, Anaheim chiles, jalapenos, poblanos, onions and scallions. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1 teaspoon of the salt, and mix to coat. Grill the chiles, onions and scallions until charred, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set the scallions and onions aside; place the chiles in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and steam for 6 to 8 minutes. Once the chiles cool, carefully scrape away and discard the charred skin, then remove the stems and seeds, and roughly chop. In the bowl of a food processor, add the chiles, onions, scallions, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, the vinegar, garlic, lime juice, zest and cilantro. Process until smooth and bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in a bowl, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a small bowl add the tomatoes, lemon juice, jalapenos, celery juice, cilantro, oil, salt, garlic and onions. Mix to combine, then cover and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the excess liquid before serving.

PORK AND TOMATILLO CHILI

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Toss the tomatillos and tomatoes with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil on a baking sheet and push to one side. Put the poblanos and jalapenos on the other side of the baking sheet. Broil, turning the vegetables occasionally, until charred, about 10 minutes. Transfer the tomatillos and tomatoes to a cutting board and let cool. Put the peppers in a bowl and cover with a plate; set aside 10 minutes. Pull the skins off the tomatoes, then core and chop them along with the tomatillos. Peel, seed and chop the peppers; set all the vegetables aside.
• Toss the pork with the chili powder, cumin, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Working in batches, add the pork to the pot and cook, turning, until browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, the onion and garlic to the pot; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the cornmeal and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Add the broiled tomatillos, tomatoes and peppers. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the broth and pork and any collected juices, then bring to a simmer.
• Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pork is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Uncover, season generously with salt and continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces slightly, about 30 more minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand about 10 minutes; spoon off any excess fat from the top. Season the chili with salt and pepper and serve with toppings.

CHILE VERDE STEW WITH PORK AND TOMATILLOS

Steps:

• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Dust pork cubes in flour and season with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown pork in the hot oil, about 5 minutes. Set aside. Place tomatillos and garlic cloves into a baking pan.
• Broil tomatillos and garlic in the preheated oven for 7 minutes. Turn off the broiler and let rest in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Mince roasted garlic.
• Heat remaining tablespoon oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion in the hot oil until softened, about 5 minutes. Add browned pork, chicken broth, minced garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf; reduce heat to low and let simmer.
• Mix roasted tomatillos, serrano peppers, green chile peppers, and jalapeno pepper together in a bowl. Add to the pot. Continue to simmer over low heat until pork is tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of a cube reads at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), about 20 minutes. Stir in cilantro and remove bay leaf before serving.

PORK CHOPS IN ORANGE CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• To prepare marinade, begin by first toasting the chiles in a hot skillet for a minute or so until they begin to emit a peppery fragrance. Cast iron works best.
• Remove tops from peppers and split into 2 or 3 large pieces. If you want a milder sauce, discard the seeds. Place the pieces in a cup of boiling water for 20 minutes to soften.
• Loosely drain water and place chiles in a blender with the garlic, salt, pepper, brown sugar, orange zest, orange segments, orange juice concentrate, and broth. Blend into a pureé.
• Place the marinade in a resealable bag or container. Add the chops and marinade in the ice box for 8 to 24 hours. Longer really is better.
• To prepare the chops, remove chops from marinade and lightly pat dry. Reserve marinade for the sauce.
• Heat skillet until hot but not smoking. Add a little oil to coat the pan. Cook pork chops for 1 to 2 minutes on each side to get a nice brown sear. Reduce the heat to medium and add in the resrved marinade. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the chops are tender.
• Remove chops from pan and place on plate and tent to keep hot. If you would like a thicker more intensely flavored sauce, reduce heat a small amount and cook down for a few minutes.

GRILLED MONSTER PORK CHOPS WITH TOMATILLO AND GREEN APPLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Marinate chops:
• Stir together coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add oil and stir until combined well. Rub spice mixture all over chops. Let chops marinate while making sauce and preparing grill.
• Make sauce:
• Simmer tomatillos and 3 cups water in a 2 1/2- to 3-quart saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tomatillos are just soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and cool 15 minutes.
• While tomatillos are cooling, core apples and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Purée tomatillos with remaining sauce ingredients except apples in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and stir in apples.
• To cook pork using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill. Light charcoal (80 to 100 briquettes) in chimney starter. Leaving about one quarter of grill free of charcoal, bank lit charcoal across rest of grill so that coals are about three times higher on opposite side.
• Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack over area where coals are piled highest for 3 to 4 seconds. Sear pork on lightly oiled grill rack directly over hottest part of coals, uncovered, turning over once and, if necessary, moving around grill to avoid flare-ups, until well browned, 10 to 12 minutes total. Move pork to coolest part of grill, then cover with inverted roasting pan and grill, turning pork over once, until thermometer inserted diagonally into center of each chop (avoid bone) registers 150°F, 10 to 12 minutes total. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 minutes (temperature will rise to 155°F).
• To cook pork using a gas grill:
• Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes. Sear pork on lightly oiled grill rack, covered with lid, turning over once, until well browned, 10 to 12 minutes total. Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and put pork above shut off burner. Reduce heat on remaining burner(s) to moderate and grill pork, covered with lid, until thermometer inserted diagonally into center (avoid bone) registers 150°F, 12 to 16 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 15 minutes (temperature will rise to 155°F).
• Serve pork:
• Cut pork away from bone, then thinly slice and serve with sauce.

CHILE-GLAZED PORK CHOPS WITH FRESH TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Slather both sides of the pork chops with the chile paste and place in a large resealable plastic bag. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes (and up to a few hours).
• Leave a light coating of the chile paste on the pork chops and season with salt and pepper. Place a large, well-seasoned cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the pork chops in a single layer and sear for 2 minutes on each side, or until the meat turns golden brown.
• Pour in enough beer to barely cover the chops. Cover the pan (top with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the pan if yours does not have a lid) and decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Turn the pork chops over and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Uncover the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high. Allow the liquid to reduce almost completely, flipping the pork chops over every few minutes to ensure that both sides become glazed with the reduced sauce. This should take about 10 minutes.
• Serve warm with tomatillo sauce.
• INGREDIENTS
• Pork Chops
• Because bone-in pork chops are more flavorful than boneless chops, I prefer them in this recipe. But feel free to use either one. I also like to use the thick cuts, but the thin ones also work well. Just make sure to decrease the braising time if you are using thin cuts because they will cook in less time.
• TECHNIQUES
• Braising the Pork Chop
• Braising is a technique used to tenderize tough cuts of meat. The meat is first seared to develop a nice golden crust, then simmered in a liquid to cook it through without drying it out. You will find variations of this technique throughout the meat recipes in this book, as Mexican cooking tends to use tougher (and tastier) cuts of meat.
• ADVANCE PREPARATION
• The red chile paste and tomatillo sauce can be made well in advance (up to 3 days before). Once the pork chops are braised, they can be held, covered, in a warm (250°F) oven for about 1 hour before serving.