Roasted Heritage Berkshire Pork Chops With Apple Pan Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• Pat the pork chops dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• In an ovenproof pan, put in 1 tablespoon of butter and olive oil, and on high heat, sear the pork chops for 2 minutes on each side, until nice and brown.
• Spoon out most of the fat in the pan and put the pan in the oven.
• Roast the pork chops for 10 minutes, until the internal temperature is 140ºF. It may take less time. Berkshire pork is best at this temperature, which is lower than the USDA recommended temperature of 160ºF. If you are a concerned person, then you are better off sticking with 160ºF. NOTE: cooking time may vary depending on thickness of chops.
• A couple minutes before you think the pork chops are done, you can peel, core and chop the apple into little pieces.
• Take the pan out of the oven, remove the pork chops and keep warm.
• In the now empty pan used to roast the pork, put back on a burner on medium-high heat, and then add the apples, sage and remaining tablespoon of butter. Caramelize for a minute or two.
• Add the Calvados and reduce by half to burn off the alcohol.
• Add the demi-glace, any juices in the bowl from the reserved pork, and salt and pepper. Reduce for minute or two until it is nice and thick.
• Spoon the sauce and apples over the pork chops and serve.
• Serving suggestions: Serve with Boiled carrots and potatoes.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the apple cider with 4 cups of water, the sugar and the salt. Toast the bay leaves, chilies, juniper berries, caraway seeds, mustard seeds and coriander seeds in a small pan set over medium heat until you can smell them, then add to the brine, and stir to combine. Add the pork chops, cover and place in the refrigerator to brine overnight or for up to 48 hours.
• To pan-roast the pork chops, preheat oven to 375. Remove chops from brine, and pat dry with paper towel. Season the meat aggressively with freshly ground black pepper and a little salt. Set a large sauté pan that will fit in the oven over medium-high heat. Add the oil, and when it is shimmering, place the chops in the pan. Cook until well seared on one side, approximately 4 minutes, then turn the chops over, and place pan in the oven to finish, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. (The internal temperature of the pork, measured at the center of the chop, should be between 140 and 145 for medium rare.) Remove the meat from the pan, and allow to rest for 5 minutes or so while you make the sauce.
• Return the pan to the stovetop, over medium heat, and add the butter, stirring and scraping to incorporate meat drippings, then add the shallots and the thyme. Cook for approximately 3 minutes, then add the brandy. Allow the mixture to reduce by half, then add the cream and the stock and reduce again, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon. Remove the sauce from the heat, and whisk in the mustard and the horseradish.
• For the apple fritters, heat the apple cider and the cinnamon stick with a couple of inches of water in a large pot set over high heat. Add the apple rounds, and blanch for 1 minute, then remove to a towel to dry. Whisk together the egg and the seltzer until frothy, then gently mix in the flours. Put the oil in a large pan set over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, dip the apple rings into the batter, and fry in the oil until golden brown.
• Serve the pork chops with a few apple fritters and a heavy drizzle of sauce across the top. The usual accompaniment is potato-and-horseradish pierogies sautéed in brown butter, though roasted new potatoes with a topping of butter and freshly grated horseradish will answer almost as well.

Steps:

• Twenty-four hours before cooking, stir all of the brine ingredients except the pork into 1 quart of water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Let cool to room temperature. Submerge the pork chops in the brine, cover and refrigerate.
• The next morning, prepare the infused oil: grind the coriander, bay leaf and peppercorns in a spice mill or a clean coffee grinder and combine with the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Let sit at room temperature.
• Make the sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and sauté until caramelized, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the apple juice, chicken stock, star anise and ginger. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until reduced by one-quarter. Add the maple syrup, vanilla pod and seeds and agar and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Discard the star anise and vanilla pod. Purée the mixture in a blender or food processor, then pass through a fine-mesh sieve into a pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Prepare a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat. Rinse the meat and pat dry with paper towels. Brush the chops with the infused oil, then sprinkle lightly with salt. Grill to medium doneness, or until the internal temperature reads 135 to 140 degrees on a thermometer and the middle is light pink, about 6 minutes per side. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Drizzle with warm sauce and serve.