I used to make these braised pork-chops quite regularly – several times a year, but I hadn’t made them for probably a year until last Thursday when Amy and I realized that we hadn’t even eaten pork chops for about four months.
The recipe is actually one of my originals, although I’m sure there are others out there with similar ingredients. I was probably influenced in my choice of ingredients by Daisy Martinez who uses alcaparrado with virtually everything, and by my version of Lidia Bastianich’s method for braised lamb chops, but I am proud to say that this recipe and its accompaniments are mine, all mine (evil laugh).
So here’s the deal:
Braised Pork-Chops with Lime and Olives
Ingredients:
- 2-4 large pork shoulder chops
- 2oz plain flour
- 1/2 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/2 hot jamaican pepper/habanero, finely chopped
- 4tbsp alcaparrado (pickled capers, olives and pimentos) chopped roughly
- 1 cup of no salt added chicken stock
- 2tbsp olive oil
- juice of 1/2 lime + 2tbsp sour orange (naranja agria) juice
- 1tbsp cilantro (leaves and stalks), finely chopped
- salt and black pepper to taste
- sliced avocado (garnish)
Mashed Yuca with Sour Orange and Allspice
- 1 large yuca or cassava, peeled and chopped into 1 inch chunks
- 4 pints boiling, salted water
- 3tbsp olive oil
- juice of 1 large lime
- 3-4 large allspice berries, finely ground or 3 tsp allspice
- 6 tbsp sour orange (naranja agria) juice
- black pepper to taste
Recipe:
Add the yuca to the boiling water, bring it back to a boil, cover with a lid and lower heat to medium.
Heat skillet to medium high and flour pork chops. Shake off excess, add half oil to pan and then add chops to pan. Brown on both sides – 4-5 mins/side. Remove chops to a plate, add rest of oil and put start sauteeing onions.
As onions start to brown, add garlic, chilli and alcaparrado. Cook for no more than two minutes before re-adding the chops. Turn up the heat to high and add enough stock to almost cover, but not quite, your chops. Stir and cover. When liquid boils, reduce heat and simmer for twenty minutes.
After the yucca has been boiling for thirty minutes, test it for softness with a knife. Just like potatoes, if yucca slips off knife, it’s done. If not, keep cooking until it does. Drain done yucca and put back in pan with olive oil. Mash like crazy until yucca is smooth and difficult to mash more. Add allspice, lime juice and sour orange and stir in. Correct seasoning and add chopped cilantro just before serving.
After twenty minutes, remove the lid from the chop pan and add lime and sour orange juice. Reduce liquid to about half of original and add cilantro. Correct seasoning and serve on a bed of the mashed yucca.
CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE OTHER POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY:
- KOREAN-STYLE PORK RIBS IN PRESSURE COOKER
- ROASTED PORK SHOULDER (Pernil) – The Quicker Version
- TOAD-IN-THE-HOLE (Sausages Nested in Batter)
- WINE-BRAISED LAMB SHANKS WITH ROSEMARY AND THYME IN PRESSURE COOKER
That looks gooood! I’m a big sucker for all things pork, especially pork chops. (little bit of drool coming out of my mouth.)
Thanks, Sher. This one, I can say, is really delish if you like that citrus taste. Jonny makes it and it’s always really satisfying. If you try it, let me know what you think! -amy
I just love the use of the lime its amazing how that can just change the food and bring out different flavors.
What a great recipe! I myself am a pork chop lover! I cant wait to test it out, I’m sure the lime will give it such a different edge and taste. Mouthwatering!