Serves 1 chop per person

Prep time: 15 min

Brine time: 2 – 24 hours

Cook time: 18 min

Ingredients:

Brine:

  • 2 litres of water
  • 1 cup of salt of your choice
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 2 springs of rosemary
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Optional ingredients: 1 can of beer, any additional herbs you like, any additional spices you like, and 1 cup of dry white wine

Dry Rub:

  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder

Pork Chops:

  • Bone in pork chops – one per person
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • 2 sliced clementines
  • 2 springs of rosemary

Directions:

For Brine:

  1. Combine 2 litres of water, 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup in stovetop pot.
  2. Bring to simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until ingredients have dissolved.
  3. Remove from heat and add bay leaves, garlic cloves and rosemary. Optional ingredients can be added at this time.
  4. Place in refrigerator or cool place to cool.
  5. Once cool, add pork chops and brine until ready to cook.

For Rub:

  1. Combine 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon chilli powder in a small bowl. Set aside until needed. This can be done a couple of days in advance.

For Pork Chops:

  1. Remove pork chops from brine 1 hour before cook and pat dry.
  2. Allow chops to come up to room temperature
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  4. Heat cast iron or ovenproof pan to medium-high heat on the stovetop
  5. Mix rub with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and cover pork chops – ensuring full chop is covered in spice rub
  6. Add 1 teaspoon of butter and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the pan (can use canola or peanut oil as well)
  7. Place pork chops in pan, add garlic and rosemary to pan.
  8. Cook for 4 minutes per side
  9. Place 2 clementine slices and a teaspoon of butter on top of each pork chop and put pan in preheated oven
  10. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155F/68C
  11. Remove from oven and rest until temperature reaches 160F/71C
  12. Serve and enjoy!