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.

GRILLED RIB PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET AND TANGY PEACH RELISH

Steps:

• In a wide 6- to 8-quart pot whisk together 8 cups water, salt, and sugar until salt and sugar are dissolved.
• Add pork chops to brine and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Prepare grill for direct-heat grilling over medium-hot charcoal (medium-high heat for gas; see Grilling Procedure below).
• Remove pork chops from brine, discarding brine, and pat chops dry with several layers of paper towels. Season chops with pepper.
• Oil grill rack, then grill chops, covered only if using a gas grill, turning over occasionally and moving around if flare-ups occur, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes total.
• Move chops to area with no coals underneath (if using gas, turn off a burner and move chops to area over shut-off burner) then cover with lid, and grill, turning and brushing with liquid, until thermometer inserted horizontally into center of chop as close to bone without touching it registers 145°F for slightly pink meat, about 2 to 3 minutes longer.
• Transfer chops to a platter and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
• Serve chops with peach relish.

PORK CHOPS IN CHERRY-PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Drain the cherry peppers, reserving 1 cup brine, then stem, halve, core and seed them. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and swirl the olive oil into it. When the oil begins to shimmer, add the garlic, and sauté, stirring frequently, until it begins to color, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the peppers, the reserved brine and the white wine, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the liquid has reduced by slightly more than half, 10 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat. (The sauce can be made a few hours ahead of time.)
• When you're ready to cook the meat, season it aggressively with salt and pepper. Place a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, and swirl the neutral oil into it. When the oil begins to shimmer, place the meat in the pan, working in batches if needed, and sear until the meat has browned, formed something of a crust and cooked through to medium-rare, 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Transfer the chops to a warmed platter.
• Add the sauce to the large, heavy-bottomed skillet in which you seared the meat, and warm over medium-low heat. Whisk the butter into the sauce until evenly distributed and the sauce develops a velvety sheen. Spoon sauce over chops, and garnish with parsley.

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.

PORK WITH SWEET PEPPER RELISH

Steps:

• For pepper relish, in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook the peppers and onion in 1 tablespoon oil for 7 minutes or until onion is tender; drain. Stir in the wine or broth, brown sugar and vinegar. Reduce heat to low; cook until liquid evaporates, about 13 minutes. Remove vegetable mixture and keep warm. , Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. In the same skillet, brown pork in remaining oil for 3 minutes on each side. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 5-6 minutes or until meat juices run clear. Serve with pepper relish.

BRINED SWEET AND SPICY PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients for brine in a large non-reactive container, making sure salt and sugar are dissolved well. Place pork chops in brine and place in refrigerator overnight.
• Once you are ready to cook, rinse pork chops and pat dry. Season with salt and cracked black pepper (make sure not to add too much salt because the pork chops absorb salt from the brine as well.).
• Heat a skillet and melt the butter. Once the pan is hot, add pork chops and cook until done, adding more butter if needed. Once pork chops are done, remove from skillet and set aside.
• Add jalapeño strips and cook for about 2 minuted to release the flavor. Add more butter if needed.
• Add pineapple chunks, reserving the juice. Add grape tomatoes. Cook for about 1 minute.
• Add half the pineapple juice to the skillet. In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch with the remaining pineapple juice. Once the mixture in the skillet starts to lightly simmer, add the cornstarch mixture and let the sauce thicken.
• Serve and enjoy!