So, being broke and low in the larder caused me to get a bit creative today. I had some pork chops in the freezer, so I had pulled them out to thaw. I had a pear that I had gotten from the basket at work that I didn’t eat right away and ended up bringing home to eat. So, I put them together!
The “recipe”
- 2 pork chops - we like the thin ones,as they brown well
- 1 pear - it doesn’t have to be fully ripe
- 3 Tablespoons of brown sugar
- steak spice, seasoning, or whatever
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped (or the packed in a jar stuff)
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 shot hot sauce (I like Billy Bob’s from the dollar store)
- about 1/2 Cup water
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- I’m sure that Cognac or Brandy would have been a nice touch
Toss the onion in a hot saute pan with a bit of oil or butter (hint: if using butter that’s not clarified, toss the onions in first and then the butter - it won’t burn as quickly) and saute it a bit, until it starts to become translucent. I like to season my onions with a bit of salt and pepper. Shove the onions over to the side and put the pork chops in the pan to brown up. Make sure that you leave well enough alone for long enough. (pull)If you flip the chops too soon, they won’t have a chance to brown and they won’t taste nearly as good.(/pull) A good rule of thumb is to make sure that the juices are flowing out the top. Then flip them. Chop up the pear and toss it in the pan with the meat and onions. Add the garlic and toss this with the onions. Cover and sweat for a minute or two.
Uncover and add the brown sugar. It will melt and start to caramelize in the juice that has sweated out of the pears, onions, and chops. Once that has occurred, mix the cornstarch in the water and pour it into the pan. Add the Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Stir the liquid until it thickens. Serve.
If you have a bit of brandy or cognac, you could also deglaze your pan a bit with it after the pears soften a bit (be sure to reduce it until the alcohol burns off, or it’ll taste harsh and unpalatable). Then proceed with the rest.
Sorry, folks about not having a picture of the finished product, but I was hungry and ate it in short order!
A name for the new dish?
Perhaps ‘A La Pair of Porkies’ ?
It’s just lucky that you happened to only have two chops
Still a bit out of my price range. :cwy:
I salute your creativity and it sure beats going out to Wendys all the time (Like I do…bad Devin!) :blush:
Could you suggest a vegetarian version of that? :wassat:
You didn’t say whether it was actually good? I always wished I was one of those people who could just throw together what’s in there house and make it work. Guess I’ll have to live vicariously through you, Mr. Emeril-wannabe
Heh. Skye, I wouldn’t have posted unless it was fantastic! It was super yummy! I can’t suggest a vegetarian version, as I’m still a meat eater. One might want to try tofu in its place. I’d definitely use the spirits in that case, to lend flavor to the sauce.