A Savory and Sweet Grilled Pork Chops and Peaches Recipe
Restaurant pork chops are usually Flintstonian in size and skirted with enough fat to keep a bear warm in the winter. However, you can make pork chops a healthier dish by going the leaner route. Our dish takes its cue from classic pork chops and applesauce, using grilled fruit and blue cheese to punch up the flavor without skyrocketing the calorie count. You'll save almost 1,000 calories by making your own and not ordering one from a restaurant, and it'll still make your mouth water.
Nutrition: 430 calories, 24 g fat (8 g saturated), 530 mg sodium
Serves 2
You'll Need
4 thick-cut (1"), bone-in pork chops (8 oz each; Prepackaged pork chops are cut too thin, so they dry out easily. Have the butcher cut them thick and on the bone, which imparts moisture and flavor during cooking.)
Olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 firm peaches or nectarines, halved and pitted
2 Tbsp pine nuts, toasted
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1⁄2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
How to Make It
- Heat a grill to hot.
- Brush the pork with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
- The outside should be charred (not burned), but the meat should be light pink in the middle.
- While the chops cook, brush the peach halves with oil and add them to the grill, cut side down.
- Grill for 5 minutes or until soft. Remove, slice, and toss with the pine nuts, onion, blue cheese, and vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
- Top each chop with half of the peach mixture and serve.
Eat This Tip
As much as we love the combination of funky blue cheese and sweet caramelized peaches, the ingredients aren't set in stone. Blue cheese pricey at your market? Try feta or goat cheese. Apricots or nectarines on sale today? Ditch the peaches for either. Price of pine nuts too high for your budget? Almonds, pecans, or walnuts all work beautifully. The point is, there's always room to adapt. You could even swap out the pork chop for chicken if you have some already laying around your freezer.
