Usually when you think of fruit and pork you conjure images of apples as that’s such a natural marriage, taste wise. I was intrigued to find this recipe using pears. Now, it was good but perhaps a different variety of pear would make it even better. It wasn’t until we sat down to dinner that I wondered what varieties of pears are available in England. Instead of Bosc maybe an Anjou pear would have been better. I don’t know which sort Nigel used but we will try it different ways in the future.
You know what else goes well with pork (besides apples)? Sweet potatoes. But they take way longer than 10 minutes to cook. So I started two fat sweet potatoes in the convection oven about an hour before we wanted to sit down and eat. Just FYI, this meal went very well with a glass of Vouvray. A wine that’s typically on the sweet side of our preferences but it made an excellent pairing with mingled tastes of pork, pears and sweet potato.
From the book Real Fast Food
Pork and Pears
Ingredients
2 loin pork chops
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic (crushed flat and unpeeled)
2 ripe pears, cut into eights and cored, peeling optional
6 TB dry white wine
6TB chicken/veg stock or water
Method
Season the pork with the salt and pepper
Heat the oil and garlic in a pan over a high heat, add the chops.
Seal on both sides
Turn the heat down and add the pears (I used Bosc pears)
Cook until both are tender and browned
Remove chops and pears to a warm plate
Pour most of the fat from the pan and return to the heat
Pour in the wine, scraping away the bits of pork and pear that are clinging to the pan
Add the stock and simmer until reduced by half
Pour over the chops and pears
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Pork chops and pears…..A really nice flavor combination. During the week I need all the help that I can get to get a meal on the table.
ReplyDeleteAs always, great meal and recipe.
Velva
This is a great dinner. I love pork and the sweetness of the pears goes nice with this.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Catherine
Pears and pork chops sounds like a wonderful combination and it made such an elegant meal, great for weeknights but company-worthy too.
ReplyDeleteTina, you are so right. I've always seen pork recipes with apples. Never one with pears. This is an interesting combination and I'm sure it worked pretty well. What a great way to have a fuss free dinner but yet taste yummilicious.
ReplyDeletePears and pork sounds lovely! I do not cook with fruits that often and this looks like a must-try! Delicious!
ReplyDeleteI've never thought to use pears with pork...always apples like you said. Nice choice for our theme. Looks like it took way more time and work than it does!
ReplyDeleteSounds awfully good. I'm going to be sure to mark this one to try. Love this book!
ReplyDeleteThis does look like a very hearty and delicious meal. I like the pears and how juicy they look after cooking with the pork. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI love pork with fruit ...this a nice twist on pork with apples ...pears make a nice change!
ReplyDeleteI love any combination of fruit and meat! This looks very appetizing.
ReplyDeleteYum. I love pork and pears together and I often throw some pears in near the end when I'm roasting a joint of pork. Great idea putting them in with some chops too, and I love your idea of adding some baked sweet potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried pork with any type of fruit, but I can see how they would go well together. I'm much more partial to pears than apples and I know I'd love this!
ReplyDelete