Buttery Brined Pork Chops
455kcal
Ingredients
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 piece peeled fresh ginger
- 1/2 shallot peel removed, leave intact
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary not the stems used in brine
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 `cup ice cubes
- 2 pork chops 1 inch thick, bone in, frenched
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp low sodium soy sauce
Equipment
- small pot
- whisk
- Large Ziploc bag or a large bowl
- 1 small bowl
Method
- Trim ends off of garlic and peel
- in a dry pot, heat coriander seed and star anise for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning
- Add water, salt, sugar, rosemary, garlic and vinegar and bring quickly to a boil
- Stir until sugar and salt are dissolved
- Boil for about 5 minutes then remove from heat. Add ice cubes
- Once completely cooled, strain into a storage container
- Store in container in fridge until ready to use (can store up to five days)
- Brine chops for one hour in a Ziploc bag at room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Rinse chops and pat dry
- Peel an inch long piece of ginger and peel half a shallot. Left both unchopped
- Heat a small amount of oil in skillet. Add ginger shallot and sear pork chops 1-2 minutes per side
- Place skillet in oven for 15-20 minutes
- In a small bowl, mix butter, maple syrup and a splash of soy sauce
- Carefully remove skillet from oven and add soy sauce, butter, maple syrup mixture to the pan to melt as well as a couple of sprigs of rosemary.
- Carefully spoon melted butter mixture onto chops. If necessary sear for another minute or so. (but not too long)
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories455kcalCarbohydrates36gProtein30gFat21gSaturated Fat11gPolyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat7gTrans Fat1gCholesterol120mgSodium14329mgPotassium653mgFiber1gSugar32gVitamin A363IUVitamin C2mgCalcium86mgIron2mg
Notes
Please note: the sodium level looks ridiculous, but rinsing the chops prior to cooking alleviates much of this.
I got these pork chops from Trader Joe's, but any butcher/butcher counter can french the chops for you.
