Sunday, October 16, 2011

Pork Chops Agrodolce



Living in Southern California where the sun is good for growing and the farms are plentiful, I am blessed to be able to get all manner of fresh fruits and vegetables at stellar prices.  Now meat, on the other hand, is another story.  Getting quality meats (ideally hormone-free, and free-range) that are locally sourced costs me an arm and a leg, and sometimes even more than that (tack on a few extra fingers to cover tax, and you get my drift).  It is interesting, because people here are very conscious of eating well-sourced meat, but the supply of local beef/chicken/pork is low compared to other areas of the country.  This supply/demand issue makes prices higher, and in some cases, the cost can be a little prohibitive.  I find myself choosing quality over quantity, ie. eating better quality meat, but just less of it.   

Fresh thyme.

I found myself pondering this issue of the price of pork when I recently decided to make this recipe for Pork Chops Agrodolce a second and third time.  

You see, the first time I made this recipe was when I was visiting my parents in Ohio.  One morning I got an email from Williams and Sonoma, and I saw this recipe when I clicked through to their site.  I was totally intrigued since I had never heard of this Italian sweet and sour dish before, and the recipe seemed so incredibly simple.  I knew I was heading out to the Westside Market the next day, so I picked up some great thick-cut pork chops to make this for my parents.     

3/4-inch thick, bone-in pork chops.

Now I don't know why I haven't talked it up more, but the Westside Market in Cleveland is fantastic.  Even with all the farmer's markets around San Diego, I would die for a place like Westside Market here.  In my eyes, one of the things that really sets the Westside Market apart is their selection of meats.  There are tons of local farms - both small and large - outside of Cleveland, so there is a much larger supply of very high quality local meats.  Plus, the Amish country is not far away and their meats (and cheeses) are always top notch as well.  At the Westside Market, you can find any cut of meat you want, a plethora of sausages and bratwurst, and just about the best bacon ever.  But, the real kicker are the prices.  

For instance: When I was shopping for pork chops for this dish I got three 1-inch thick bone-in pork chops for about $11.  Weighing in at around a pound apiece, these chops were a steal of a deal compared to prices at the supermarket here. In San Diego, the same thick cut pork chops are usually $6.99 or even $7.99 a pound, and at that price they are not even necessarily local or antibiotic/hormone-free.  Looking at those prices I wasn't sure how much I wanted to make this recipe again...  But then I saw some less expensive cuts - about 3/4-inch thick chops - and I thought I could surely adapt this recipe to save some money.     

Chopped peppers for serving with pork chops.

And that is exactly what I did - Using the 3/4-inch thick chops, I adjusted the cooking times to ensure that they would stay tender and juicy, but still get ample flavor from the sauce.  Basically I saved myself some cash, and got a dish that was still amazing for a quick weekday dinner, or a more special occasion on a weekend.  That said, the 1-inch thick pork chops are certainly more indulgent if you can afford it (or if the prices are better where you live).    

Impossibly dark Agrodolce sauce.

Now that I have effectively split hairs regarding the price of the pork for this dish, I hope I can convince you to try it by telling you how incredible this Agrodolce sauce tastes. "Agrodolce" is an Italian word meaning 'sour' and 'sweet,' and this sauce gets its sour flavor from reducing balsamic vinegar, and the sweet flavor is from honey.  The vinegar and honey are simmered together with fresh thyme, which gives the sauce a slightly floral and earthy taste that is subtle enough to go unnoticed except by the most discerning palates.  The sauce is also made richer by the addition of a little bit of broth and butter, and the final product is reduced to a thick and velvety consistency with the absolute perfect balance of flavors.   The pork is partially cooked in this sauce, but at the end you can drizzle the sauce over the top and also over any vegetables or noodles you choose to eat with it. 

If you like, you can also lick the pan.  I won't tell anyone.   


You might also like: Pork Char Siu Men
______________________________________

Pork Chops Agrodolce


Adapted from a Williams and Sonoma recipe


I have made this recipe three times now already, and since it uses pantry staples, I can imagine that I will be making it VERY often in the future.  It is easy enough to pull together in just about 25 minutes, which likely makes it the quickest elegant dinner option I have ever made.  The original recipe called for 1-inch thick pork chops, but adapted it to cook 3/4-inch thick chops.  This not only saves on the price point, but also decreases the cooking time.  A win-win.


4 bone in pork chops, each about 3/4 in thick (to use chops that are 1 in thick, refer to the original recipe)
Salt and pepper to taste
About 1 tbsp olive oil


For sauce:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1-2 tbsp minced fresh thyme
1/2 cup chicken broth
1-2 tbsp unsalted butter


For serving: Chopped onions and peppers, sauteed in olive oil with a splash of balsamic vinegar, and seasoned to taste with salt and pepper 


To prepare pork chops, first season them with salt and pepper.  Then heat the olive oil in a large fry pan or skillet over medium high heat.  Add the pork chops and cook, turning once, for about 2 minutes per side, then transfer them to plate.


To make the sauce, reduce the heat to medium, and add the balsamic vinegar, honey, and minced thyme to the same pan used for browning the pork chops. Cook the liquid until it is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the chicken broth, and then increase the heat slightly to bring the mixture to a simmer. Return the pork chops to the pan, cover and cook for about 2-3 minutes.  Then, uncover, turn the pork chops, and cook for 4-5 minutes more, basting with the sauce once. Transfer the pork chops to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.  


To finish the sauce, reduce the heat to high, and simmer for about 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is thick and syrupy.  Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter until it is smooth.  Drizzle the sauce over the pork chops and serve immediately with sauteed peppers and onions, or your favorite vegetables or salad.

40 comments:

  1. This sauce sounds delicious! I can't wait to give it a go.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That sauce sounds amazing!

    I agree with you on meat prices. In Melbourne I've found several butchers that have really reasonable prices for ethically sourced meat. But buying organic from the supermarket? No way, too expensive.

    Might just be worth it for this recipe though!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have never heard of this sauce! And I'm still going to try it! It seems everything is getting more expensive, but especially meat. (Bad corn crop?) Pork around here (Pa.) is still cheaper than beef, although I'm lucky enough to get beef from my neighbor, whose cows I've watched grow up!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aw! I used to live in Cleveland and I agree. I love the Westside market so much. (Pretty much the only thing I miss about Cleveland) Mike is my produce vendor. What a pal. Anyway. Looks beautiful, as always.

    ReplyDelete
  5. These look excellent. I love fresh thyme and could put it in practically anything.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Those really look amazing, Amanda. I am definitely saving for a future recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  7. OH YUM! Love the pic of the fresh thyme!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like you financial "chops"! Get it? "Chops"? GREG

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love balsamic vinegar is so versatile and transforms any meat into something fabulous. Yummy dish!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yummy and fresh! Adding this to my dinner list.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just made carnitas this weekend for a friend who is a fellow pork lo lover. However, next time she comes over, I'm making her this dish. Sounds scrumptious and woo-hoo! Fast!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love sour-sweet sauces like this (especially with some butter added in too). Interesting to hear what it's like to source good quality meat where you are - here in New Zealand it can be very expensive too - our population is so relatively tiny. As a result I just eat less meat and buy it when I can.

    ReplyDelete
  13. never heard of italian sweet and sour too until now! yay got all the ingredients in my pantry (sans the pork chop) so will make it next time i buy some!

    btw, ive made your granola like 3 times ever since and have given them away as gifts as well...im sooo addicted! i halved the baking time to 4 hours and turned up the heat a bit..so its 'almost' slow roasted but not quite hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  14. These look great - I seem to shy away from pork chops because they turn out dry - were these moist?

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is Amanda's dad and I have to say this was a fabulous dinner and the pork chops were cooked perfectly. The sauce made the dish

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the photo, the dish looks so delicious. I think the pork chops might be one of your favorite judging from the photo. Love the pic :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Elizabeth: yay for Clevelanders! I totally <3 the Westside Market, glad to hear you do too.

    Viv: Wow you are really loving the granola!!! I love that you are giving it away for gifts, warms the heart!

    Anonymous: Since these pork chops are partially cooked in the sauce, they definitely turn out moist. But if you are worried, just cook them for a little less time so they turn out more 'medium.'

    Anonymous (Dad): Hi dad! :D I know you loved the chops, but the time with you was even better. <3

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looks good! I want a bite. Pork chops are hard, I will have to try this out some time.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well, it is always some sort of trade off. You get the weather and veggies of southern CA. Living in the middle of the US, I can get locally sourced meat without paying an arm and a leg.

    These chops look great, by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have the same problem all the way on the other side of the country (though I get the impression eating well is still catching on here in a way that it has already spread in CA). People seem more aware of their choices and more willing to choose carefully and yet buying is the problem. I have a hard time justifying the cost of organic produce sometimes - let alone to bacon. But hopefully things will find a happy medium soon. These pork chops look stellar!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, how I miss Westside Market! We made weekly pilgrimages, which all started with bratwurst on a hard bun! We bought all our meat there and knew all the vendors! Now I am really nostalgic (until a snowstorm hits Ohio, which will make me fully appreciate my new SoCal home:)
    I rarely make pork shops as they often end up dry, but these look perfect! I love the combination of agro e dolce and I might change my mind and try them:)
    How is the life as a PhD? I hope you are enjoying every minute - you deserved it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such fabulous chops!!! I will definitely try them soon. And you've made me want to hope in my car and drive to Ohio...I'm just next door :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. This really looks great. I love pork and this looks like a winner.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a beautiful meal and it probably tastes better than it looks!

    ReplyDelete


  25. شركة تاج لمكافحة الحشرات بالمملكة العربية السعودية 0551844053 من اوائل الشركات التى تتميز بالقضاء على الحشرات ابادة فورية
    وتامه مع الضمان القضاء على كافة انواع الحشرات الزاحفه والطائرة (النمل - الصراصير -البق - الثعابين_ الوزغ_ النمل الابيض _ الفئران
    ويوجد قسم خاص وعروض هائله لرش الدفان ومكافحة النمل الابيض بالدمام والرياض
    شركة مكافحة الحمام بالدمام والخبر
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالدمام
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالقطيف
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالجبيل
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالدمام
    شركة رش دفان بالرياض
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالرياض
    شركة مكافحة الحمام بالجبيل والقطيف
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء

    ReplyDelete


  26. خدمات شركة ركن الامثل لتسليك المجارى بالقطيف 0502644550



    شركة ركن الامثل لتسليك المجارى بالقطيف والخبر 0502644550 شركة تسليك مجارى بالقطيفوالتى تمتلك افضل الادوات المثالية والتى تنافس اقوى الشركات فى مجال
    التسليك ومنها شركة طيوب التى لا تقل شركتنا اهمية عنها من حيث العمالة الفنية المدربه على اعلى مستوى من الخبرة والمهارة
    وامتلاك احدث الادوات والاجهزة الحديثة نعمل فى شركة ركن الامثل على حل مشاكل التسليك بافضل الطرق المثالية الممتازة والتى
    تميزنا عن غيرنا فشركة ركن الامثل من افضل شركات التسليك المجارى ويوجد لدينا فنى تسليك مميز وعمالة مدربه على اسس
    عالمية فشركتنا هى احدى افضل الشركات الرائدة في مجال التسليك و الصيانة و التى تقدم افضل خدمة تسليك مجاري داخل
    المنازل كل اسرة تدرك اهمية المحافظة على نظافة احواض و مصارف المطبخ و الحمام و بما انك انتي ربة المنزل فتكوني انتي
    سيدة المنزل الاولى فلابد المحافظة على المنزل والتعامل مع افضل الشركات وهى شركة ركن الامثل لتسليك المجارى بالقطيف
    وباقل التكاليف وعدم تكرار المشكله مرة اخرى ويوجد ضمان على التسليك للعملاء شركات تسليك مجارى بالقطيف
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالقطيف
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالقطيف
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالخبر
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
    شركة تسليك مجارى بالخبر

    ReplyDelete
  27. تقدم شركتنا احسن خدمات مكافحة حشرات بالقطيف
    فنحن شركة المهندس افضل شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
    وذلك مع وجود طاقم كامل من الفنيين و المتخصصين في رش المبيدات الحشرية و ذلك مع تفادي أضرارها بالنسبة للبشر
    فشركتنا شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء
    كما نعتمد على خبراء في الكشف عن أسباب وجود الحشرات في المنزل لمنع عودتها مجددا .
    فشركة المهندس تقدم ايضا خدمة مكافحة حشرات بالجبيل




    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالخبر
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالجبيل
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالاحساء
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالقطيف

    ReplyDelete
  28. أفضل شركات كشف تسربات المياه وصيانة المنازل بشكل صحيح بما يرضى جميع العملاء فإذا كنت تعانى من مشاكل تسربات المياه ما عليك سوى الإتتصال على شركة ساحة الرياض لخدمات كشف وصيانة التسربات

    كشف تسربات
    كشف تسربات المياه

    ReplyDelete
  29. شركة المنزل السعودى أفضل شركة متخصصه في عزل الأسطح والعزل المائى والحرارى وعزل الخزانات وعزل الأسطح فلا تتردد في حماية المنازل مع شركة المنزل السعودي
    Saudi House Company is the best company specializing in surface insulation, waterproofing, thermal insulation, insulation of tanks and surface insulation.
    كشف تسربات المياه بجده

    شركة المنزل السعودى متخصصه في كشف تسربات المياه وعزل الأسطح وحل مشاكل التسربات وتنظيف المنازل ورش ومكافحة الحشرات
    عزل مائى وحرارى
    عزل الأسطح
    كشف تسربات بالطائف
    كشف تسربات بجده
    عزل مائى وحرارى بالطائف
    عزل الأسطح
    عزل خزانات بالطائف
    شركات العوازل
    شركات العزل

    ReplyDelete
  30. شركة بسمة الدمام تقدم افضل الخدمات في مكافحة الحشرات المنزلية عزيزي العميل الحشرات بجميع انوعها فيها خطوره علي الانسان ولابود عليك بان تطلب شركة لي مكافحة الحشرات نقدم اليك جميع الحلول في مكافحة جميع الحشرات المنزلية اتطلب خدمتنا
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالدمام

    ReplyDelete

  31. https://www.uttarakhandescort.com/
    Uttarakhand Escort Service | Uttarakhand Call Girls
    Get Escort Service in Uttarakhand at low price by Miss Kajal 000000000. Our escorts agency offers luxurious and beautiful Uttarakhand female model escorts
    Uttarakhand call girls, call girls in Uttarakhand, young girls, call girl Uttarakhand, escorts in Dehradun, escort service in dehradun, dehradun call girls, dehradun escort, escort in dehradun, dehradun escort service, hariyana escorts service, dehradun independent Escorts , dehradun escorts, escort service in dehradun, dehradun escorts agency.

    ReplyDelete
  32. ทดลองเล่นสล็อต Pg slot demo ทดลองเล่นสล็อตฟรี เกมสล็อตออนไลน์พีจีสล็อตทั้งหมด เล่นฟรีได้ที่ ambbet.game เท่านั้น มีเกมให้เล่นครบทุกเกม ทั้งเก่า เเละใหม่รวมกันมากกว่า 200 เกม เกมสล็อตลิขสิทธิ์เเท้ 100% เล่นได้ทุกเกม เครดิตฟรีไม่ต้องฝาก ไม่ต้องเเชร์ เล่นได้ทันที ไม่ต้องสมัครให้เสียเวลา เปิดให้เล่นฟรี 24 ชั่วโมง.

    ReplyDelete