Teriyaki Pork Chops With Sautéed Apples Recipe
This is a remake of the old Homer Simpson special: pork chops and applesauce. Only, this isn't some ordinary overcooked cartoon chop with a scoop of Mott's from a jar, and it happens to be much healthier, too (no one ever accused Homer of having good nutrition). This pork is soaked in a sweet, garlicky teriyaki marinade, and the apples are sautéed with ginger and Chinese spices, making for a perfect, sophisticated, yin-yang partnership (cue prolonged Homer drooling noise). These teriyaki pork chops are easy enough to throw together on any given busy Tuesday night, but they're seemingly fancy enough to serve to dinner guests on a special Saturday.
Nutrition: 315 calories, 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 890 mg sodium
Serves 4
You'll Need
4 pork chops (about 6 oz each)
1 cup bottled teriyaki marinade (we like Soy Vay)
1⁄2 Tbsp peanut or canola oil
1⁄2 onion, diced
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1⁄2 cup apple juice
1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make It
- Combine the pork chops and teriyaki sauce in a shallow bowl or sealable plastic bag, turning the chops to coat.
- Cover the bowl or seal the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 8.
- Preheat a grill, grill pan, or large cast-iron skillet.
- While the grill warms up, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and ginger and cook for about 2 minutes, until the onion is translucent.
- Add the apple, apple juice, vinegar, and five-spice, and stir to combine.
- Lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the fruit is softened (but not mushy) and the liquid has thickened enough to cling lightly to the apples.
- When the grill or pan is hot, remove the pork from the marinade, blotting off the excess with paper towels, and grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until lightly charred all over and firm but slightly yielding to the touch. (Be careful—if the grill is too hot, the sugars in the marinade will burn. Ultimately, you want a nice medium heat.)
- Serve each chop with a scoop of the apple chutney.
Love this recipe? Subscribe to our Eat This, Not That! magazine for even more at-home cooking and healthy eating ideas.
