Pork Chops and Padrón Chiles en Escabèche (from Epicurious)
This Pork Chops and Padrón Chiles en Escabèche By Christian Reynoso for Epicurious is comforting and fresh.
Escabèche translates to “marinade” in English, which is exactly what you’re making here: a bright, tangy, smoky marinade full of pickled vegetables that makes an ideal sauce for sweet fatty pork chops. This escabèche is inspired by those floating spicy jalapeños, carrots, and onions that I’ve mouthwateringly gazed upon many times at my local taqueria’s salsa bar—but without the overwhelming heat. I call for less hot Padrón chiles, but other small mild peppers like shishitos also work (and if you’re really in a pinch, some sliced cubanelles). This all-purpose condiment keeps getting better with age (up to two weeks), like Parmigiano-Reggiano, sauerkraut, and my favorite celeb, Ryan Gosling.
Thick-cut, bone-in pork chops work better here for two very good reasons: Thick-cut chops usually have a little more fat, which contrasts nicely with the bright escabèche, and that bone equals more flavor. One last thing: I prefer to start chops on the stovetop and finish them in the oven to avoid the inevitable spatter from prolonged high-heat cooking. It also helps them cook more evenly and be less prone to drying out.
Ingredients
Special Equipment
A spice mill or a mortar and pestle
Step 1
Season each pork chop all over with 1 tsp. salt and let sit at least 1 hour or chill on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet, uncovered, up to 2 days.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 425°. If pork chops have been chilling in the fridge, let sit at room temperature while you make the escabèche.
Step 3
Finely grind coriander seeds in a spice mill or with a mortar and pestle; set aside. Heat a dry large skillet over high. Add chiles in a single layer and cook, turning with tongs or a large spoon, until evenly blistered on all sides and deeply browned in spots, 5–7 minutes. Transfer chiles to a small pot; reserve skillet. Add red onion, garlic, carrots, red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, honey, paprika, reserved ground coriander, 4 Tbsp. oil, remaining 4 tsp. salt, and 2 Tbsp. water to pot. Set over low heat, cover, and bring liquid to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring vegetables often to keep submerged, until just-cooked through and still al dente, about 10 minutes. Remove escabèche from heat and stir in oregano.
Step 4
Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet over high. Arrange pork chops in pan so bone ends are in the center (this part cooks slower and this will help with even browning) and press down on pork chops with tongs to ensure surface is making good contact with the pan. Cook until golden underneath, about 3 minutes. Turn pork chops over and press down on them again. Transfer to oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 130° for medium (you should still have a little pink flesh; temperature should rise to about 145° when the pork chops rest), 5–7 minutes. Transfer pork chops to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
Step 5
To serve, transfer pork chops to plates and spoon escabèche over.
Step 6
Do ahead: Escabèche can be made 2 weeks ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and let cool. Cover and chill.
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