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:
- Combine 2 litres of water, 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup in stovetop pot.
- Bring to simmer and cook for 3 minutes, or until ingredients have dissolved.
- Remove from heat and add bay leaves, garlic cloves and rosemary. Optional ingredients can be added at this time.
- Place in refrigerator or cool place to cool.
- Once cool, add pork chops and brine until ready to cook.
For Rub:
- 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:
- Remove pork chops from brine 1 hour before cook and pat dry.
- Allow chops to come up to room temperature
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Heat cast iron or ovenproof pan to medium-high heat on the stovetop
- Mix rub with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and cover pork chops – ensuring full chop is covered in spice rub
- Add 1 teaspoon of butter and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the pan (can use canola or peanut oil as well)
- Place pork chops in pan, add garlic and rosemary to pan.
- Cook for 4 minutes per side
- Place 2 clementine slices and a teaspoon of butter on top of each pork chop and put pan in preheated oven
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155F/68C
- Remove from oven and rest until temperature reaches 160F/71C
- Serve and enjoy!