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You are here: Home / Recipes / Entrées / Brined Pork Chops with Dijon Fig Glaze

Brined Pork Chops with Dijon Fig Glaze

February 11, 2017 Updated September 4, 2019 6 Comments

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I married a carnivore.  He didn’t.  I’m perfectly content being vegetarian, but I can’t convert him.
When I do cook meat, I want it to be free of antibiotic, hormone and GMO free.  I was so excited when I came across a site called Butcher Box (this is not a sponsored post).

This is what excited me:

  • Each meat portion was individually wrapped, which means I only have to thaw enough for my husband.
  • Delivered to my door once a month!
  • Grass fed beef that life on pasture.
  • Antibiotic, hormone, and GMO free.
  • I receive cuts of meat that I could never find in Utah, which makes it fun to cook something new.
  • Free range organic chickens.

 

You can check out their site if you would like to read more about them.

 

 
In my first box I received pork chops.  Something that I haven’t cooked in years.  My husband was so excited.  I hope you enjoy this quick and simple recipe that I created for him.
 
The pork is first brined.  Soaking the pork in a brine not only adds flavor but makes it incredibly juicy.  Brining is a wonderful way to get succulence out of any lean meat.  This step can be skipped, but I highly recommend it.  You will just need to think ahead.
 
 
 
 
 
For the brine you will need:
4 cups water
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons coconut sugar, or brown sugar
zest from one orange
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
1 sprig fresh rosemary
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 pork chops
 
 
 
For the fig glaze:
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 tablespoon grainy Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fig jam
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (not pictured, whoops)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, optional
 
 
 

In small sauce pan add 2 cups water, salt, and coconut sugar.  Bring to a simmer and stir until salt and sugar is dissolved.

Pour the hot mixture into a dish or other brining container and add the remaining 2 cups cold water.

Add the orange zest and other brining herbs and spices.

Cool Completely.

Add pork chops to the cooled brine.

 

Cover and refrigerate.  Allow the pork chops to brine for at least 4 hours.  Because these pork chops are thin cut, I only brined for 4 hours.  If  they were a very thick cut, I would brine overnight.

 

When ready to cook, remove pork from the brine.  Dry the meat with a paper towel and allow to drain while you heat the pan.

Place a large skillet the the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

Once the skillet has preheated in the oven, carefully remove and place on a cook top over medium-high heat.

Add about a tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil.  Add pork chops to the hot pan.

Once they have browned, turn them over and brown the other side.

Return the skillet and pork chops back into the 400 degree oven and cook for about 6 minutes for thin cut about 12-15 minutes for a 2-inch thick chop.

Remove skillet from oven and remove pork chops to a plate and tent with foil.

Add 1/2 cup white wine to the pan.  Bring to a simmer while scraping all those wonderful bits from the bottom of the pan.  Reduce slightly then add 1/2 cup chicken stock.  Reduce by half.

Stir in 1 tablespoon fig jam and 1/2 tablespoon grainy Dijon. Stir until the jam has melted.  Add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar just to give it a little splash of flavor.

 
Turn heat off and stir in butter, if you’d like a richer and slightly thicker glaze.  This is optional, but delish.
 
Pour glaze over pork chops and serve.  This cooking process should take less than 15 minutes.  This is a quick and easy meal.  After the brining, of course.
 
 
The Carnivore likes potatoes on the side.  I like a big bunch of steamed broccolini.
 
 
4.5 from 2 votes
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Brined Pork Chops with Dijon Fig Glaze for Two

Brining keeps the pork moist, which is often tricky to do. The glaze really takes the meal up a level.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword brined pork chops, maple dijon glaze, pork chops with maple dijon glaze
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Brine 4 hours
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 476 kcal
Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

Brine:

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or brown sugar
  • zest from one orange
  • 4 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 pork chops
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil

Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 tablespoon grainy Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon fig jam
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter optional

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan add 2 cups water, salt, and coconut sugar.  Bring to a simmer and stir until salt and sugar is dissolved.  Pour the hot mixture into a dish or other brining container and add the remaining 2 cups cold water, orange zest, peppercorns, allspice berries, rosemary, and thyme. Cool completely.  Add pork chops to the cooled brine. Place in refrigerator and allow chops to brine for at least 4 hours or more for thick cut.
  2. When ready to cook, remove pork from the brine.  Dry the meat with a paper towel and allow to drain while you heat the pan. Place a large skillet in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.  Once the skillet has preheated in the oven, carefully remove and place on a cooktop over medium-high heat.  Add oil to hot skillet and brown chops on both sides.  Don't fully cook, just brown them then return to 400 degree oven and bake for 6 minutes.  Return the skillet to a burner set on medium heat.  Place pork chops and a plate and tent with foil.
  3. Add white wine to the hot skillet and deglaze the pan, scraping up any bits on the bottom.  Add chicken stock and reduce by half.  Stir in Dijon, fig jam and vinegar.  Stir until jam has melted.  Turn off heat and stir in butter, if desired.  Pour glaze over pork chops.
Nutrition Facts
Brined Pork Chops with Dijon Fig Glaze for Two
Amount Per Serving (1 chop)
Calories 476 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 106mg35%
Sodium 7228mg301%
Potassium 684mg20%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 245IU5%
Vitamin C 5.9mg7%
Calcium 73mg7%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Entrées, Pork and Beef

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alison says

    April 21, 2019 at 12:53 pm

    Could this be done with a Pork tenDerloin?

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      April 21, 2019 at 1:59 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  2. Sam R. says

    February 22, 2017 at 6:38 pm

    Mathew; I don't know where you live but Italian delis usually carry fig jam because it pairs with proscutio so well. I got mine at Caputos deli, in Utah.

    Reply
  3. Marisa Franca @ Allourway says

    February 11, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    I have a confession to make. I'm a carnivore too as well as my Honey. Yep! I really like my meat and your chops look like they're worth 10 drools (my version of stars). We're fortunate that we can find good meat sales — I'll have to try this fig glaze . LOVE figs. Thank you for the inspiration. Have a great weekend.

    Reply
    • Janet Barton says

      February 12, 2017 at 9:54 pm

      Thank you, Marisa. I love your idea of "drools".

      Reply
  4. Matthew says

    February 11, 2017 at 6:03 am

    Where do I get fig jam

    Reply

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Janet Barton

Hi I'm Janet and this is where I share my delicious made-from-scratch seasonal recipes that I make at home for my family every day.

I believe cooking from scratch, using unprocessed and whole foods is an important part of healthy eating. My goal is to help you create amazing recipes by providing easy step-by-step photos and instructions.

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