I adore pork—so much so that Robin
and I invested in a half a hog (and a chest freezer to go with it)
last year. As a result, we have a bounty of delicious Duroc pork on
hand, so I’m always trying to come up with tasty new ways to cook
it.
This quick (à la minute, as
they say in the restaurant biz) and simple dish—prepared in the
traditional “pan-fry, then deglaze” method popular in many
bistros in France—has now become one of my standbys. And if you
serve it with simple roasted potatoes and vegetables, it makes for an
easy week-night meal.
Seared Pork Chops with Apricot-Brandy Glaze
(serves 2)
Ingredients
1 large pork chop, or 2 smaller ones (¾
to 1 lb. total)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons apricot jam
4 tablespoons brandy
1 large sprig sage (1 tablespoon,
chopped)
Directions
Season the pork with ¼ t garlic powder
and with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Coarsely chop the sage.
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet (cast
iron is best) over medium high heat till shimmering, then place chop
gently in the pan. Sear till brown, then flip.
Turn down the heat to medium, and
continue cooking till it’s done to your liking. You may want to cover the pan, if it's a thick chop like mine. (I like my pork
still slightly pink in the middle, as it’s more tender that way.)
Remove from pan to let rest while you finish the recipe.
Add butter to pan, then scrape bottom
to loosen any bits of pork.
Once the butter is melted, add the
apricot jam,
and then the brandy.
Simmer for a minute or two, till the
sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally so it doesn't burn, then add the chopped sage. Turn off heat.
Slice the pork,
then spoon sauce on top (see photo at
top). I served my pork with roasted baby potatoes and Roasted Leeks with Lemon and Walnuts.
Be sure to check back here in two weeks, on July 22, when I'll post the recipe for that tasty leek recipe!
Be sure to check back here in two weeks, on July 22, when I'll post the recipe for that tasty leek recipe!
The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Putting this early education to good use, she now writes the Sally Solari Mysteries, a culinary series set in Santa Cruz, California. An ex-lawyer like her sleuth, Leslie also has degrees in English literature and the culinary arts. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i.
Leslie’s website
Leslie also blogs with Chicks on the Case
Leslie on Facebook
Leslie on Twitter
Leslie on Instagram
Check out Leslie's most recent Sally Solari mystery, MURDER FROM SCRATCH:
“Karst seasons her writing with an accurate insider’s view of restaurant operation, as well as a tenderness in the way she treats family, death and Sally’s reactions to Evelyn’s blindness.”
Ellery Queen Magazine
All four Sally Solari Mysteries are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.
I love that you adore pork, Leslie. I do, too, in many tasty ways. Thanks for the easy recipe and I have all the ingredients to make it, yay!
ReplyDeleteHa! Love that you love that I love pork, Grace! And yes, one of the great things about this recipe is how a lot of folks will already have the ingredients on hand.
DeleteI rarely have any jams in my pantry but have both apricot and raspberry jams right now for some baking projects. The apricot brandy combo is a classic sauce.
ReplyDeleteI keep jams more for cooking than for putting on toast (on toast, I love peanut butter with sriracha sauce--yum!).
DeleteYou went whole hog! Well, at least half hog.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an excellent combination of flavors.
Ha! Love it, Libby! Indeed we did!
DeleteThis looks delicious, and I love your dishes! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, those wonderful apple dishes from the '60s! Thanks, Jackie!
DeleteMade this last night and it was delicious! And easy! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that, Heather!
Delete