Pork Chops Stuffed With Prunes And Pine Nuts

Serves: 5

Roxane Raynor

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

38

Spice

50

Sweetness

50

Sourness

42

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.6

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Port Wine

1 tbsp

Olive Oil

3 tbsps

Pine Nut

1 tsp

Salt

2 tsps

Lemon Juice

Directions:

1

In a medium saucepan, combine the prunes with enough water to cover them by 1/4-inch

2

Bring to a boil and reduce the heat

3

Simmer gently, uncovered, for 20 minutes

4

Add 1/2 cup of the port and bring back up to the boil

5

Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 minutes

6

Remove from the heat, drain the prunes, coarsely chop, and set them aside

7

Reserve the liquid

8

In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat

9

Saute the pine nuts, stirring frequently for 1 or 2 minutes, until golden

10

Add the prunes and the remaining 1/4 cup of port to the pan

11

Continue cooking and stirring until the liquid is reduced to a glaze

12

Stir in the salt and pepper and cool to room temperature

13

Cut horizontally into the edges of the pork chops almost to the bones to create a pocket for the stuffing

14

Stuff the chops loosely (if there is leftover stuffing reserve it for the sauce)

15

Secure the edges of each chop with 2 toothpicks

16

Season the chops generously with salt and pepper

17

Preheat the oven to 350 and place a roasting pan in it to heat it up

18

Heat a large, heavy and well-seasoned skillet over medium-high heat until very hot

19

Sear the chops for about 1 1/2 minutes on each side

20

Transfer the chops to the pan in the oven and finish cooking them for about 20 minutes, until the chops are done through

21

Meanwhile, add the oil to the skillet which you used to sear the pork

22

Over medium-low heat, saute the shallots for 6 to 8 minutes, until translucent

23

Add the port, beef broth, and the reserved prune-cooking liquid to the pan and, if there was any filling leftover after stuffing the chops, add it now

24

Increase the heat to high and reduce the liquid, uncovered, until it is thickened and saucy, stirring frequently

25

Stir in the butter and lemon juice until the butter is completely absorbed

26

Serve the chops immediately, spooning the sauce over the top