American🥩 Meat

Juicy Pork Chops with Apple Sauce

Name: Juicy Pork Chops with Apple Sauce
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pieces Center-cut pork loin chops; ¼ cups Salt; 1 quart/liter Water; 2 tsp Soy sauce; 2 tsp Brown sugar; 2-3 pieces Garlic cloves; 3 tbsp Apple cider vinegar; 1 whole Large onion; 2 tbsp Sugar; 1 tbsp Fresh thyme; 1 tbsp Fresh rosemary; ~1 tbsp Ginger; 4 pieces Granny Smith apple; 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; ~2-3 tbsp Cooking oil; ~½ tsp Black pepper; ~2 tbsp Lemon juice; ~3-4 tbsp Butter; ~1 lb Green beans; ~2-3 Shallots (or onions); ~½ cup Dried apricots; ~¼ cups Sliced almonds

⏱ 180 min🍽 Serves 2

This recipe for pork chops with apple sauce offers a delightful combination of savory and sweet flavors. Brined to ensure moist and tender meat, the pork chops are paired with a buttery, savory apple sauce that's perfectly balanced. Serve with green beans for a complete and satisfying meal.

Adapted from a video by Chef Jean-Pierre

Juicy Pork Chops with Apple Sauce | Chef Jean-Pierre

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

Center-cut pork loin chops2 pieces
Salt¼ cups
Water1 quart/liter
Soy sauce2 tsp
Brown sugar2 tsp
Garlic cloves2-3 pieces
Apple cider vinegar3 tbsp
Large onion1 whole
Sugar2 tbsp
Fresh thyme1 tbsp

Steps

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1
Prepare the brine by combining water, salt, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Smash the garlic cloves to release their flavor and add to the mixture along with apple cider vinegar.
2
Submerge the pork chops in the brine and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 4-6 hours for more flavor. If time permits, flip them every 30 minutes.
3
Start preparing the apple sauce by dicing the onion and sautéing it in a pan until softened.
4
Add sugar and vinegar to create a balanced gastrique—a sauce that balances sweetness and acidity. Stir in fresh thyme and rosemary.
5
Use a microplane grater to add ginger to the pan. Add the chopped garlic as well.
6
Peel and core the Granny Smith apples, cutting them into appropriately sized pieces. Add the apples to the pan.
7
Cover the pan and cook the apple sauce over low heat for about an hour, allowing all ingredients to blend together. Add a touch of Worcestershire sauce.
8
Puree the apple sauce using an immersion blender or food processor until smooth. For an even silkier texture, pass it through a fine-mesh strainer.
9
Add fresh lemon juice to brighten the sauce's flavors, then whisk in butter to balance the acidity. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
10
Remove the pork chops from the brine and pat them completely dry. Heat cooking oil in a skillet to 365°F.
11
Season the pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Place them in the hot oil and leave them undisturbed until they naturally release and are easy to flip.
12
Sear for about 2-3 minutes on the first side until golden. Flip the chops and sear the other side until also golden.
13
Transfer the seared pork chops to a 375°F oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 140-150°F, measured with a meat thermometer. Account for carryover cooking which will raise the temperature further.
14
Prepare the green beans by warming the pre-cooked beans in a pan with butter and shallots. Add pieces of dried apricots for flavor complexity.
15
Season the green beans with salt and pepper, and optionally top with sliced almonds.
16
Plate the pork chops and drizzle generously with the smooth apple sauce. Arrange the buttered green beans alongside and garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig if desired.

Juicy Pork Chops with Apple Sauce

Ingredients

Steps

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