Pan Seared Butter Braised Pork Chops with an Herby White Wine Reduction

(recipe shot and developed for Saving Dinner in 2018)

This recipe is every inch as mouth watering as it sounds.

“Pan seared” – “butter braised” – “pork chops” – “herb white wine reduction” – what we didn’t include in the recipe name (since it was already crazy lengthy) was the luxurious topping that really takes this recipe straight to decadent: FRIED SAGE. Oh mama.

Pork chops can be real buggers to cook – often becoming tough or flavorless or both – not these beauties. The right combo of the right methods makes these pork chops perfectly juicy and flavorful.

So, in summary, everything good exists in this scrumptious recipe.

Pan Seared Butter Braised Pork Chops with an Herby White Wine Reduction

Serves 4

Ingredients

½ cup apple cider vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

4 large garlic cloves, chopped

5 sprigs rosemary, minced

4 thick cut bone-in pork chops

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons ghee

4 sprigs rosemary, minced

6 sprigs thyme, minced

8 leaves sage, minced

2 tablespoons grass fed butter

1 medium shallot, finely chopped

1 cup dry white wine

1 ½ cups bone broth or low sodium chicken broth

10 to 12 leaves sage, fried

Instructions

In a medium bowl, mix together first 4 ingredients (vinegar through rosemary), then set aside.

Season both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper, then place in large zipper topped plastic bag. Pour garlic mixture over the top, make sure chops are evenly saturated, let out excess air, seal and place in refrigerator to marinate for at least 1 hour (up to 48 hours).

At time of cooking, heat ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove pork chops from refrigerator and marinade, and once ghee begins to sizzle, add pork to skillet.

Sear for 5 minutes, not touching the pork chops, then flip and sear for another 5 minutes, again, not fidgeting with them.

After you’ve seared them on both sides, add the butter to the pan, along with a pinch of the minced herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage) – only a pinch, set the rest aside.

Using tongs, flip the pork chops, and then baste (with a basting brush) with ghee/butter/herbs in the skillet. Repeat this process for 5 minutes. Continuously flipping and basting as you go.

Then remove pork chops from skillet, and add the shallot. Sauté for about 2 minutes or until shallot is fragrant and translucent.

Deglaze pan with splash of the wine. Using a whisk to get all the good bits off the bottom of the pan, continue whisking for about 2 minutes, then add remaining wine, herbs, and broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil, and allow to boil until liquid has reduced by half, then reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 10 minutes.

Serve pork with a generous ladle of sauce and a couple fried sage leaves.

*to make fried sage, heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium high heat. Add a handful of sage leaves, and fry for 2 to 4 minutes or until leaves are crispy, then remove from heat and oil.