Pork chops is a childhood favorite for me. I grew up eating the classic Brady Bunch “pork chops & apple sauce”. The pork chops my parents made wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it was good enough to create a long lasting memory. Fast forward 30+ years and I find myself always looking for new ways to prepare pork chops and I love using sweet ingredients to make the dish interesting and needless to say, my kids love anything that’s sweet. The last time I made it, I was playing around with cayenne pepper with real maple syrup and it turned out fantastic (one of these days I’ll put the recipe together and share it). This version titled Pork Chops Agrodolce from The Cilantropist looks amazing — balsamic vinegar, honey, and thyme sounds like a perfect combination for the sauce and something I’m going to be experimenting with soon. As always, I love simple ingredients — for me, there is no other way to cook.
…Now that I have effectively split hairs regarding the price of the pork for this dish, I hope I can convince you to try it by telling you how incredible this Agrodolce sauce tastes. “Agrodolce” is an Italian word meaning ‘sour’ and ‘sweet,’ and this sauce gets its sour flavor from reducing balsamic vinegar, and the sweet flavor is from honey. The vinegar and honey are simmered together with fresh thyme, which gives the sauce a slightly floral and earthy taste that is subtle enough to go unnoticed except by the most discerning palates. The sauce is also made richer by the addition of a little bit of broth and butter, and the final product is reduced to a thick and velvety consistency with the absolute perfect balance of flavors. The pork is partially cooked in this sauce, but at the end you can drizzle the sauce over the top and also over any vegetables or noodles you choose to eat with it…
Read the full post & get the recipe
