1258. CIDER-BRINED PORK CHOPS with WALNUT-BACOON BUTTER and APPLE and BUTTERNUT SQUASH

makes 6 servings


Pork:
5 cups apple cider
2 cups water
1/3 cup kosher salt
6 (8-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops, trimmed

Tian:
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups coarsely chopped Swiss chard
1 teaspoon minced seeded jalapeño pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
8 ounces butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
1 large Rome apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 6 1/2 ounces)
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (1-ounce) slice white bread
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shredded Gruyère cheese

Butter:
2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts, toasted
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
dash of ground nutmeg
1 slice applewood-smoked bacon, cooked and finely crumbled

Remaining ingredient:
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

To prepare pork, combine 5 cups apple cider, 2 cups water, and 1/3 cup kosher salt in a large bowl; stir until salt dissolves. Add pork chops to cider mixture; cover and refrigerate 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 425°.

To prepare the tian, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chard, jalapeño, and garlic to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until chard wilts, stirring occasionally. Layer half of squash, apple, potatoes, and chard mixture in a shallow 2-quart broiler-safe baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle vegetables with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Repeat the layers with remaining squash, apple, potato, chard mixture, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Combine 1/2 cup cider and broth; pour mixture into baking dish. Cover dish with foil. Bake at 425° for 50 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Preheat broiler.

Place bread in a food processor; pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1 cup. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese; sprinkle over vegetable mixture. Broil 2 minutes or until breadcrumbs are browned. Remove from broiler, and keep warm.

To prepare butter, combine walnuts and next 5 ingredients (through bacon) in a bowl, stirring well.

Remove pork from brine mixture; discard brine mixture. Pat pork dry with paper towels. Sprinkle pork with 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer registers 155° or until desired degree of doneness. Place about 1 cup tian on each of 6 plates; top each serving with 1 pork chop. Divide butter mixture evenly among pork chops.


courtesy of: Joanne Weir, Cooking Light, October 2008