Brined Pork Chops with Spicy Pear Chutney

Recipe courtesy of U.S.A. Pears.

Recipe Ingredients:

4 cups water - divided use
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
4 pork chops about 3/4-inch thick
1/2 white onion, sliced
2 to 3 sprigs of fresh sage
Olive oil for brushing the pork chops

Spicy Pear Chutney:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, minced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you want it)
3 fresh USA Pears, chopped

Cooking Directions:

1. Combine 1 cup water with the salt, brown sugar, packed, and pepper in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve. Add 3 cups of cold water and let the mixture cool.
2. Stir in the apple cider vinegar. Pour mixture into a glass baking dish or large freezer weight plastic storage bag. Add the pork chops, onions, and sage. Refrigerate for 1 to 12 hours.
3. Take pork chops out of the fridge and rinse them well with cold water, then pat dry with paper towels. Let set for about 5 minutes before cooking.
4. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium high heat. Brush the pork chops with olive oil and cook for 4 minutes per side (more or less depending on the thickness of the pork chops). Remove from pan, brush the top with a little more olive oil and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
5. For Spicy Pear Chutney: Preheat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and minced red onion. Cook for 2 or 3 minutes until the onions start to soften. Add the dried cranberries and cook for 5 more minutes Stir in the sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and pears. Combine well. Simmer on low heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the pears and cranberries have softened but the pears still retain their shape. If the mixture is too liquid, turn the heat up and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Serve warm. Makes about 2 cups.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of U.S.A. Pears.