Fast and Fabulous: Provençal Pork Chops and a Red Côtes du Rhône!
““If I had to narrow my choice of meats down to one for the rest of my life, I am quite certain that meat would be pork.” ~ James Beard”
I couldn't agree more with the fabulous James Beard and I especially love cooking pork in the Fall…but since experiencing the chillsome Winter and early Spring weather in the mountains of western North Carolina, I’ve been making it even more frequently. It’s so much fun to pair with wine too and demonstrates one of my favorite Pairing Principles, “The Sauce is the Boss!”
This "Fast & Fabulous" recipe for Provençal Pork Chops combines the classic flavors of Provence with succulent, pan-seared pork chops. As with all of my Fast & Fabulous recipes, this dish can be prepared in under an hour and also includes a wine pairing recommendations to further enhance your enjoyment.
Now, as a total carnivore, I usually like to use "bone-in" chops but for this recipe, boneless chops work best. The mouth-watering sauce keeps them succulent and juicy and makes a prettier presentation. The type of pork chop YOU choose to use in this or any other recipe should basically come down to personal preference though but there are quite a few to pick from:
Pork loin chops are cut from the center of the loin, the strip of meat that runs from the pig’s hip to shoulder, and consist of a small portion of the tenderloin separated from the loin by a T-shaped bone.
Pork rib chops don't contain any of the tenderloin and are taken from the area closest to the rib so the bone is off to one side.
Boneless pork chops are cut from the area above the loin chops and the thickness of all of these types of chops ranges from about half an inch to 2 inches.
Two factors will determine how you cook your chops: (1) how thick the chops are, and (2) if they are "bone-in" or "boneless." The thicker the chop, the longer it will take to cook, and bone-in chops will also take longer to cook than boneless. So to avoid over or under cooking, please be sure to adjust your cooking time accordingly.
This recipe also calls for Herbes de Provence, a delightfully aromatic, flavorful mixture of dried herbs indigenous to the eponymous province in southeast France. The mixture typically includes rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, savory and lavender and is often sold in traditional Provençal clay jars. Herbes de Provence makes an excellent seasoning for chicken, fish or pork and works deliciously well with the flavors in this dish.
A quarter cup of dry red wine really adds nice depth of flavor to the sauce along with the flavorful caramelized onions. And don't worry about opening another bottle or looking for one of those dreaded "cooking wines," just use the wine you plan on drinking with your meal to make this recipe. Since the ones recommended here are so affordable you don't have to feel guilty for adding it to the pan.
I like to serve these juicy Provençal Pork Chops over a bed of pearled cous cous and baby spinach to catch all the delicious, savory sauce. Since the sauce is rich and tomato-based and uses Herbes de Provence, I love to pair it with a red wine from the South of France (another favorite Pairing Principle “If it grows together it goes together.”)
A few of my faves include:
1.) Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Rouge ($19.99). This medium-bodied lovely from the Southern Rhône is 100% Syrah from legendary winemaker Louis Barruol. It has oodles of personality at a VERY affordable price!
2.) La Solitude Côtes du Rhône Rouge ($18.99): This classic Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend is fruit-driven and utterly charming. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and perfect for enjoying on its own or with food.
3.) Le Pigeoulet Vaucluse Rouge ($26.99): This Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault blend from the famed Brunier brothers of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is a true gem and imported by Kermit Lynch to boot!
4.) Domaine Pierre Usseglio Vin de France L’Unique ($22.99): A “unique” GSMMM blend (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Marselan and Merlot) displays lovely notes of cherry, plum and licorice with a hint of lavender.
I hope you enjoy this delightful recipe for Provençal Pork Chops as much as we do. And all wine recommendations are currently available at Highlands Wine Shoppe in Highlands, North Carolina. Cheers and enjoy!
"FAST + FABULOUS: PROVENCAL PORK CHOPS "
Author: Stephanie Miskew | The Glamorous Gourmet
Makes: 4 servings
Pair this delightful dish with a bold red wine from France's Rhone Valley or Provence!
Ingredients
4 Tbsp. good olive oil
4 1-inch thick, boneless, center cut pork chops
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 small plum tomato, sliced
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over med-hi heat. Pat the chops dry and season both sides with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Once the oil in the skillet is hot, add the chops to the pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer the chops to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
Add the sliced onion to the same pan and sauté over medium heat until softened, approximately 5-7 minutes. Add canned tomatoes with their juices, red wine, Herbes de Provence and red pepper flakes to the pan and stir well to combine. Cover the pan and simmer gently until the flavors have melded and the juice has thickened slightly about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Heat broiler. Place browned pork chops on a baking sheet or broiler pan and top each chop with a slice of the plum tomato. Sprinkle the chops with additional salt, pepper and Herbes de Provence and broil until the tomatoes are slightly charred and the chops become golden brown and crispy on top, approximately 5-7 minutes.
Return the broiled, tomato-topped pork chops and any accumulated juices to the pan, nestling the chops into the tomato mixture. Simmer until the chops are heated through, about 5-10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.