RECIPE: Rec: Pork Chops Smothered with Fennel and Garlic

RECIPE:

julie-r-wa

Well-known member
** Pork Chops Smothered with Fennel and Garlic **

I originally found this at Gail's Recipe Swap, posted by Cyndi who got it from "Around the Southern Table" by Sarah Belk. Absolutely delicious!

4 servings

time to make 35 min 10 min prep

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

4 pork loin chops, 1 " thick (center-cut preferred)

1 tablespoon butter

8 cloves garlic, peeled and slivered

1 green onion, chopped

1 1/4 cups chicken broth

2/3 cup dry white wine

2 fennel bulbs, trimmed,quartered,cut into thin slices

2 teaspoons cornstarch

salt

black pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.

3. Pat chops dry with a paper towel and add to the skillet.

4. Braise for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, or until they turn a nice, deep golden brown.

5. Remove the fat from the skillet.

6. Leaving the pork chops in the skillet, remove it from the heat and add butter, garlic, and green onions.

7. Saute for 1 minute in the hot skillet.

8. Return the skillet to heat and add the chicken broth, wine, and fennel.

9. Bring to a boil.

10. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.

11. Remove the chops to an ovenproof casserole dish and cover foil lid.

12. Place in the oven and let the chops continue cooking for 20 minutes.

13. While the chops bake, simmer the sauce in the skillet for 5 minutes or until slightly reduced.

14. In a small bowl, mix the remaining room-temperature broth with the cornstarch.

15. Add the cornstarch mixture to the sauce and simmer for 1 minute or until slightly thickened.

16. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

17. Serve chops with sauce spooned over each portion.

18. Good served with rice pilaf!

http://www.recipezaar.com/27470

 
Julie, this looks so good. I miss the old fattier pork chop that could be braised

for an hour and still be tender and juicy. I gotta try this one.

 
Curious, what about the shoulder chop...

I am not sure that is the right name for the cut, but there is a pork chop, or there used to be, that doesn't look like the loin. There is more bone to it. Could that cut be braised, or is all the pork too lean now? We are thinking about buying a half pig and a half cow from one of the local ranches/farms. I wonder if they would be fattier.

 
I think you're right, they're cut from the butt, I think. I guess it isn't the fat per se I miss,

but the succulence of the pork chops from my childhood, although they were probably overcooked. The pork from a local farm might be tastier, but I think it has more to do with the breed as the new pork is bred to be lean. Can you ask the source? Perhaps they raise heirloom hogs. Thanks for reminding me of the shoulder chops, I love the meat from the butt/shoulder and the rib end loin roasts when braised.

 
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