Pickle Brined Pork Chops With Mushroom Escabeche And Smashed Potatoes Recipes

Steps:

• Season the pork chops with salt and pepper; sprinkle all over with 1 1/2 tablespoons flour. Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in 2 batches, add the chops and cook until golden and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side, adding 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet between batches. Transfer the chops to a plate and keep warm.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in the same skillet; add the mushrooms, garlic, scallion whites and a pinch of salt and cook, without stirring, until the mushrooms begin to brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon flour and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are soft, about 3 more minutes. Stir in the chicken broth and sour cream, bring to a simmer and cook until the gravy thickens, about 1 more minute.
• Divide the pork chops among plates. Drizzle any juices from the pork into the gravy; stir in the scallion greens and parsley. Season with salt and pepper; spoon over the pork. Serve with cornbread.

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a medium pot, cover with cold water and salt generously. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until fork-tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain the potatoes, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Return the potatoes to the pot and let dry in the still-hot pot, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the half-and-half.
• Add the butter mixture and cream cheese to the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Smash with a potato masher or large fork. If the potatoes seem too thick, add some of the reserved cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Combine the pickle juice, pepper juice and pork chops in a large zipper-top bag. Brine at least overnight and at most 24 hours, flipping the bag halfway through.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the piquante peppers, bell peppers and onions with the olive oil in a bowl. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer to a baking sheet and roast until slightly charred and soft, about 20 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and keep warm until ready to serve.
• Take the chops out of the bag (discard the brine) and dry them off with paper towels. Place a chop between plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until 1/2 inch thick. Make sure you pound around the bone but keep the bone intact; this adds flavor and plating dramatics. Repeat with the remaining chops.
• Set up an F. E. B. station with flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate shallow containers; season the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper. Season each chop with salt and pepper, then dredge in the flour, coat with the egg and then coat in the breadcrumbs, ensuring the breadcrumbs adhere to all the nooks and crannies.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the vegetable oil and heat until very hot. Working in 2 batches, fry the chops 2 at a time until golden on each side, 4 to 5 minutes a side. Keep the chops warm on a wire-racked baking sheet in the oven while you repeat with the remaining chops.
• Plate each chop over a serving of the peppers and onions and serve with 2 lemon wedges to squeeze on top.

Steps:

• For the brine:
• To make the brine: In a large container, add all of the ingredients and stir to combine. Submerse the pork chops in the brine and refrigerate for 3 days. After 3 days remove the chops from the brine, discarding the brine.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan. Roll the fat edge of each pork chop with the fennel pollen. Place porks chop gently on the preheated grill or grill pan. After 3 to 4 minutes rotate the chops 90 degrees to create lovely grill marks. Grill the chops for another 3 to 4 minutes and then turn over and repeat the process. If the chops seem to be burning move the chops to a cooler part of the grill to allow for longer cooking time without burning. Stand the chops up so the fat edge is in contact with the grill to crisp up the fat edge, this will also make the fennel pollen very aromatic. Remove the chops from the grill and let rest in a warm place before serving. The doneness of the meat should be about medium to medium well and very juicy. Serve with polenta.
• In a medium size saucepan, bring the milk, water and bay leaf to a boil. Season generously with salt, almost to the point of over seasoning. How do you know that you are there? TASTE IT! When it has reached a boil, slowly whisk in the polenta in small sprinkles. Once all of the polenta has been incorporated, reduce heat to medium and immediately switch over to stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook the polenta for 30 to 40 minutes, adding water if the polenta becomes too thick to loosen it up.
• When the polenta is thoroughly cooked, it should look creamy and not feel gritty on your tongue. Remove it from the heat and stir in the Parmigiano and mascarpone. Serve it immediately, or place a sheet of plastic wrap right on the surface of the polenta to prevent a skin from forming on the top.
• To reheat: Add a little water to the polenta and heat over low to medium heat stirring constantly to prevent burning.

Steps:

• Arrange pork chops in a shallow dish. Cover with pickle juice. Marinate in refrigerator at least one hour, but I recommend from 8 to 24 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Drain pork chops and discard marinade. Cook the pork chops on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center, 6 to 8 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).