Name: Pork chops with apples, quince and sage
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: serves 4 people
Ingredients: 800 g pork chops (28 oz.), 3.5 cm (1.4-inch) thick, on the bone (2x pork chops); 1 tsp fennel seeds; 2 tbsp olive oil; 3 apples; 1 quince; 1 tsp dijon mustard; 2 tbsp brandy; 1 tbsp floral honey; 3 sage leaves; 1 sprig of thyme; 2 cloves of garlic; 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 50 g stale bread (1.8 oz) or 1 slice; 2 tbsp freshly grated horseradish; Parsnip purée with pear

Pork chops with apples, quince and sage

This is a true autumn treasure. So many delicious autumns treat in this dish: apples, quince, sage, and pork chops. Speaking of which, I have no idea how come there was only one recipe on this blog with pork. Not two, not three, only one. But that all changes today as we are adding this one to our online recipe book. We don’t eat pork chops that often, but when we do, we like to prepare them as deliciously as possible. This autumn we are preparing them with quince, since it’s the first year we have homegrown quince in our front yard + pork and quince are best friends taste wise. Actually, this whole dish literally falls on the plate, comfort meal, prepared real simple, packed with sweet apples, juicy pork chops, a tiny bit sour and tangy quince, and intensely delicious sage. If you still have a few minutes left when preparing these pork chops, then make sure to sprinkle the pork chops with the crunchy topping (made with stale bread and fresh horseradish) because it adds that lovely, crusty texture and a bit of tanginess to the dish thanks to the horseradish. Serve with potato puree or parsnip puree from the blog. Such a wonderful, rich, quick and very very tasty autumn main dish.

Quince and pork chops are such a divine combination. Quince isn’t too sweet or too sour and because of that it brings out such a special sweetness and juiciness from the pork chop. Ahh, we just love it. You can also use quince when making pork roast. Simply cut the quince in quarters (remove the core beforehand), add to the baking dish and bake. The taste will be phenomenal.

We sprinkled pork chops with a delicious, crunchy bread topping with horseradish. It’s made in less than 10 minutes and it adds a little bit of tanginess and crunchiness to the whole dish and honestly, it’s so good. Worth making. Also, serve this wonderful autumn main dish with potato puree or parsnip puree.

METHOD

Prepare the pork chops

Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Sprinkle both pork chops with fennel seeds, drizzle with olive oil, pressing firmly into each side and place one sage leave on top of each pork chop.
Sear the pork chops

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, remove the sage from the pork chops and place them into a heated skillet. Sear on all sides (except for the bone side) for 4 minutes (all together 12 minutes).
Prepare the apples and quince

While the pork chops are in the skillet, clean the apples and quince, remove the core and cut both apples and quince into quarters.
Cook the fruit

When the pork chops are golden and cooked through, transfer them from the skillet to a large pan. Using a brush, lightly brush them with dijon mustard. Pour brandy into the same skillet (the alcohol will evaporate and the taste will be sweet and delicious) and honey. Scrape base of the pan with a wooden spoon to release caramelised residue, to give taste. Reduce the heat and add one sage leave, thyme, apples, quince and two cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed. Stir to combine then increase the heat and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add apple cider vinegar, season with salt and pepper, then pour in 150 ml (2/3 cup) of water. Cover with a lid and cook for another 10 minutes.
Crunchy topping (optional)

Prepare the crunchy topping. Slice the stale bread into small chunks, place in a small bowl and add two tablespoons of water. Place a skillet over high heat. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and stale bread. Stir to combine and cook for about 6 minutes, then remove from the heat. Transfer the bread to a small bowl and add the freshly grated horseradish. Set aside until serving.
Pork chops with apples, quince and sage

Remove the lid from the skillet and cook for another 5 minutes. Add in the pork chops, "mustard" side down. Don't forget about all the remaining pork juices on the plate, add them to the skillet, cover with a lid and cook for another 5 minutes, on low heat.

Tip

If you prefer your pork chops well done, cook for additional 5 minutes.
Serve

Serve pork chops with apples, quince and sage. Top with crunchy topping and serve with potato puree or parsnip puree. Pour over the pan juices and serve. Enjoy.