Vietnamese pork chops

  • Preparation 15 min
  • Refrigeration 3 h
  • Cooking 10 min
  • Servings 4
  • Freezing I do not suggest

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Ingredients

  • 4 bone-in pork chops, about ¾ in (2 cm) thick
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 green onion, finely sliced
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) brown sugar
  • 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 3 tbsp (45 ml) olive oil
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) fish sauce (nuoc mam)
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) freshly grated ginger
  • ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Sriracha
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • To serve: extra fresh cilantro and lime wedges

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Preparation

  • Put the pork chops in a large zip-top freezer bag and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the lime juice, green onion, brown sugar, garlic, olive oil, cilantro, fish sauce, ginger and Sriracha. Season with salt and pepper, then whisk until the sugar dissolves.
  • Pour ¾ of the marinade over the pork, work the bag to coat every side, press out the air and seal. Refrigerate 3 hours minimum, ideally overnight (8 to 12 hours). Keep the remaining marinade in a clean airtight jar in the fridge, it becomes the dipping sauce.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high with a thin film of olive oil.
  • Take the chops out of the fridge, scrape off the excess marinade and lay them on the hot pan. Sear 2 to 3 minutes per side, without moving them, until the crust is deep golden.
  • Transfer the pan (or the chops onto a sheet pan) to the oven and cook 5 to 7 minutes more, until the internal temperature reads 145°F (63°C) at the thickest point and the center is faintly pink.
  • Cover loosely with foil and rest 5 minutes so the juices settle. Serve with the reserved marinade for dipping, plus extra cilantro and lime wedges.