Like most of my favorite recipes, this is one I threw together with what I had on hand when Plan A just didn’t appeal to me. I have meal plans, but sometimes I get bored or forget to buy a crucial ingredient. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it’s always an adventure. This one worked out just beautifully. Here’s the (approximate) lowdown.:
4 pork chops
1 Cup pomegranate arils +1/4 cup for garnish
1/2 Cup honey
2 tsp butter
1/2 tsp white vinegar (you could get creative with the vinegar, I reckon)
3 or 4 drops of liquid smoke
Juice and zest from 1 orange (I used a tangerine, since that’s what I had, but an orange would be more appropriate.)
1 tsp grated ginger
pinch of salt
3 whole cloves
Heat oven to 350.
Combine all ingredients but chops in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.
Lightly salt and pepper chops on both sides, then brown in a little bit of oil. Place in a glass baking dish, then pour sauce over chops. Bake for 25 minutes, or until chops are done. This depends on the chops’ thickness. Remove from oven, and carefully strain sauce back into the sauce pan. Discard the seeds and cloves. Simmer the liquid to reduce by half and serve over the chops. Garnish with extra pomegranate arils.
Easy, and so, so good! My family flipped for it, but there wasn’t nearly enough sauce for us, so scale this recipe at will. I think with some very minor modifications, this would make a beautiful Christmas ham glaze.
