Pork Chops Stuffed With Prunes And Pine Nuts Recipes

SHIITAKE MACADAMIA NUT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• For the stuffing: In a saucepan, saute garlic, onion, and shiitake mushrooms in butter. Add panko flakes and mix well. Season with thyme, salt and pepper. Fold in macadamia nuts. Set aside and cool before stuffing pork chops.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season pork chops with Essence. Massage pork chops with minced fresh garlic and stuff in pockets. Stuff pork chops tightly with 1/2 cup of stuffing. In an ovenproof saute pan, brown pork chops in a little olive oil until nicely browned on both sides. Place the pan in the oven and roast until the chops are cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F, about 15 minutes.
• Remove chops from the oven. Place the chops on a platter and set aside. Place the pan on the burner. In the same pan used to brown pork chops, add 3 tablespoons of butter and olive oil and heat. Add the garlic and shiitake mushrooms and saute until mushrooms are wilted, about 4 minutes. Add heavy cream, soy sauce and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• In another saute pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the bok choy and onions and toss until just wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the mixture among 4 plates. Top each mound with 1 pork chop. Ladle sauce over chops and serve.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

PORK LOIN STUFFED WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Soak prunes in wine, if you wish, for as long as possible. Drain prunes, reserving wine. With a long sharp knife, make a slit in the center of the loin and stuff it with prunes (reserve prunes that won't fit into pork).
• In a large casserole heat butter. When foaming subsides add the onion or leek, celery and carrot. Cover and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove them with a slotted spoon and reserve for later. Add vegetable oil to the casserole and heat. When hot, add the loin and brown on all sides, including the ends. When pork is browned, remove it to a plate. Discard all fat from the casserole, but leave behind any drippings. Return cooked vegetables to the bottom of the casserole. Add the meat on top and add any prunes which didn't fit into the loin.
• Cover loin with reserved white wine you soaked the prunes in, broth, bay leaf and garlic. Put a lid on casserole and set in oven. Cook for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours or until pork juices run a clear yellow (difference in time depends on how thick the loin is; internal temp is 165 degrees). Remove casserole from oven and remove the pork and let rest while you make the sauce. Strain the juices into a "degreasing" cup or heat-resistant cup. Discard aromatic vegetables and prunes. The fat will rise above the juices; discard it. Return juices to casserole and boil down until thickened. Finish with a tablespoon of butter or not as you wish. Slice pork into thin slices, serve with saffron rice, sugar snap peas and spoon sauce over the top.

LOIN OF PORK STUFFED WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Two days in advance, place prunes in a bowl, add Armagnac, cover and refrigerate.
• Make a deep cut lengthwise down the middle of the pork. Spread meat out flat, like a book. Season with salt and pepper. Drain prunes well, reserving Armagnac for another use. Place prunes in double layer down the center of the pork. Close meat over them and tie at 1 1/2-inch intervals with butcher's cord. Dust with salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a large heavy skillet or casserole, preferably enameled cast iron, add duck fat or oil. Sear meat over medium-high heat until lightly browned on all sides. Remove meat. Reduce heat to low, add carrot, onion and garlic and cook until softened but not brown. Add wine and reduce by half. Stir in tomatoes, thyme and bay leaf. Return meat to pan, add veal stock, bring to a simmer and place pan in oven.
• Cook 30 minutes, basting every 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees, turn meat and continue cooking about one hour longer, basting every 10 to 15 minutes. Add water as needed to keep one inch of liquid in pan.
• Remove from oven. Place meat on cutting board, and tent with foil to keep warm. Gently simmer liquid in pan 5 minutes or so, then force through a sieve into a saucepan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Slice pork and arrange on platter. Reheat sauce, spoon a little over the meat and pass the rest alongside.

PORK CHOPS WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from the chops. Mince about one tablespoon of the fat and heat it in a large skillet. Quickly brown the chops on both sides on a high heat in the fat. Remove chops.
• Lower heat and add onion. Saute until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic and ginger and continue to cook, stirring for another minute or two. Add the prunes, brandy and honey. Stir.
• Return the chops to the skillet along with any juices they may have released upon standing. Season with salt and pepper and baste with the sauce. Cover skillet and simmer very gently until the chops are just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Arrange chops on a platter. Taste sauce and adjust seasonings. Spoon sauce over chops and serve.