Pickle-Brined Pork Chops With Mushroom Escabeche And Smashed Potatoes

Serves: 6

Cierra Adams

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

46

Spice

37

Sweetness

58

Sourness

38

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.9

Difficulty

Ingredients:

2 tbsps

Peppercorns

2 cloves

Garlic (minced)

1 tbsp

Olive Oil

Directions:

1

For brining the pork chops: Combine the salt, sugar, peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, lemon peels and parsley with 3 quarts water in a large pot or bowl and whisk together

2

Add the pork chops, cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, turning once halfway through

3

This may seem like a long time, but these are seriously big pork chops

4

Brining will make your pork so tender and flavor it throughout

5

For the smashed potatoes: Place the potatoes in large pot and cover with salted cold water

6

The potatoes will soak up that salt like pasta and it will make a big difference in flavor

7

Cover and bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender, 20 to 30 minutes

8

Drain the potatoes, and return them to the same pot, allowing them to dry

9

Melt the butter with the half-and-half in a small saucepot over low heat

10

Add to the potatoes along with the cream cheese and season with salt and pepper

11

Smash with a potato masher and set aside, keeping warm until ready to serve

12

For the mushroom escabeche: Heat the canola oil in a large saute pan over high heat

13

Add the mushrooms and saute until lightly browned in spots, 2 to 3 minutes

14

Season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat and reserve

15

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepot over medium heat and saute the garlic and shallots until softened, 2 to 3 minutes

16

Add the vinegar, sugar, chili flakes and lemon zest and juice

17

Bring to a simmer and then turn off the heat

18

Return the reserved mushrooms to the pot, toss to combine and absorb all of that flavor

19

Garnish with parsley

20

For preparing the pork chops: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

21

Heat a grill pan over high heat

22

Remove the chops from the brine and dry completely with paper towels

23

Drizzle with canola oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper

24

Place the chops on the grill and sear until browned, 5 to 6 minutes on each side

25

Transfer to a sheet tray and finish cooking in the oven until an internal temperature reaches 135 to 140 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 15 to 20 minutes

26

Transfer to a plate and tent with foil

27

Let rest 5 to 10 minutes

28

Serve the pork chops over the smashed potatoes and top with the mushrooms