Pesto Coated Center Cut Pork Chop Recipes

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO-STUFFED PORK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray.
• Using a sharp knife, cut pork lengthwise 3/4 of the way through. Place in a prepared pan and spread sun-dried tomato pesto in the incision. Fold pork back in half and use a metal or wooden skewer to close the seam. Season with salt and black pepper.
• In a small bowl, combine vinegar, honey mustard and thyme. Spoon mixture over pork.
• Roast 45 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer reads 155 degrees F (pork may still be pink in the center and that's O.K.).
• Let pork rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing crosswise into 1-inch thick slices. Serve about 1/2 of the pork with 2 cups rice. Reserve remaining rice and pork for additional meals.

PESTO PORK CHOPS RECIPE

Steps:

• Mix together 1/2 cup of pesto, the extra-virgin olive oil, black pepper, and salt.
• Place the pork chops into a shallow bowl or plastic bag. Pour the pesto mixture on top of the pork chops.
• Marinate the pork chops in the pesto mixture for 5 minutes.
• Get a frying pan, and into it place the pork chops. Cook on each side for 5 minutes.
• When done cooking, put the pork chops onto a plate, and top with 1/4 cup of pesto, fresh basil leaves, and Parmesan cheese.
• Serve, and enjoy!

POTATO-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the pork: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pulse the herbs, garlic, lemon zest and potato chips in a food processor until coarsely ground. Transfer to a shallow dish.
• Season the pork with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the pork, fat-side down, and cook, turning, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes; remove from the skillet. Brush the pork all over with the mustard, then roll in the chip mixture. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until a thermometer inserted into the center of the roast registers about 150 degrees F, 50 to 60 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before slicing into chops.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, pesto, herbs and lemon juice in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Top with the tomato. Serve the chops with the sauce.

PESTO STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix feta cheese, basil pesto, and pine nuts in a bowl. Use the tip of a sharp boning or paring knife to cut a 3-inch slit in the side of each pork chop, 2 inches deep and 1/4-inch away from the bone, to make a pocket for stuffing. Stuff pork chops with pesto filling and secure with toothpicks.
• Mix black pepper, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and thyme in a small bowl; rub both sides of each chop with the spice mix. Place chops into a shallow baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chops are browned and stuffing is hot, about 40 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the center of the stuffing should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Brush chops with balsamic vinegar and bake until vinegar forms a glaze, another 5 minutes.

PAN ROASTED PORK CHOPS WITH PEA SHOOT PESTO

Steps:

• In a small skillet over medium-low heat, toast pine nuts, tossing occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes.
• To prepare pesto, in a food processor or blender combine pea shoots, 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, cilantro, Parmesan, garlic and salt. Pulse until roughly chopped. With motor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil; blend until well combined. Scrape pesto into a bowl.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each pork chop horizontally in half to bone, making a pocket for stuffing. Rub pork chops all over with cut side of garlic clove, grinding garlic juices into bone and meat. Season chops all over with salt and pepper, and fill each pocket with 1 tablespoon pesto.
• In a very large ovenproof skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear pork chops until well browned, about 3 minutes a side. Transfer skillet to oven. Cook pork chops until they register 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, 12 to 15 minutes (or cook pork to taste). Let stand in skillet for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare salad: In a large bowl, toss together pea shoots, arugula, remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts, cilantro and shallot. Toss with enough olive oil to lightly coat greens; drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide salad among 4 serving plates. Place a pork chop on each bed of greens. Top chops with additional pesto. Spoon pan juices over each plate.

PESTO PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put flour, salt and pepper on a plate and combine.
• Dredge both sides of pork chops in flour, and shake off any excess.
• Spray a skillet with the cooking spray and preheat on medium-high.
• Add the chops and brown on each side for two minutes.
• After they are browned, spread the pesto sauce over the chops and put lid on the skillet.
• Continue cooking for an additional two minutes or until they reach 160 degrees.
• The chops will be juicy and not dried out.
• Enjoy!