I go grocery shopping practically every day. It’s part of my
routine and my work. While it’s a luxury to buy and cook fresh ingredients
daily, it can sometimes be a chore that I have to surmount.
Yesterday was a case in point. I’d been working on a seafood
recipe for days and had to go back to the supermarket yet again for more fish.
We’d eaten enough of the seafood recipe trials to be seafood-ed out so I couldn’t
put my husband through it again. I had to go two more rounds with my seafood
recipe last night but I wanted to dine on something else.
What could be a quick and satisfying solution? Pork. Not a
roast but a pork chop, thinly sliced to the thickness of my pinkie finger. I
love that cut of pork chop because you get lots of porky flavor and can cook it
relatively quickly without drying. And the seasonings shine because there’s
more to go around in every bite. And did I mention how much I love to gnaw on
the bones too? They’re just the right manageable size.
Thin-cut pork chops are also what I grew up with. Vietnamese
people love them pan-fried or grilled, served with lots of rice on a plate
since the pork has to be attacked with knife and fork. There’s often some nuoc
cham dipping sauce on the side. Last night we had the pork chops with pasta and
stir-fried
pea tips.
So when my eyes fell upon the tray of thin-cut pork chops, each
one rimmed with a layer of fat, a flood of delicious childhood memories came
over me. The four thin chops weighed a total of 1 ⅓ pounds (600 g). Once
home, I did a quick marinade and instead of coating them with breadcrumbs as my
mom would do for her
version, I used fine cornmeal for crusty crunch. Dinner was on the table in
no time and I got to chew on the bones too. Very satisfying and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
RECIPE
Cornmeal Crusted Pork
Chops
Serves 4 light eaters, 2 heavy eaters
Ingredients
- 4 thin-cut pork chops, about ⅓ pound (150 g)
each - 1 large clove garlic
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 shots of fish sauce
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 or 2 small handfuls of fine cornmeal
- Oil for pan-frying
- Basic Vietnamese dipping
sauce (nuoc cham), optional
Instructions
- Rinse and pat the chops dry. Set them on a plate
for a moment. - Finely chop the garlic then add the salt and
pepper. Use the flat side of your knife blade to mash the garlic with the
abrasive seasonings. Rub it all over the pork chops along with the shots of
fish sauce. Set aside to marinate for about 15 minutes; if you like, cover it
with plastic wrap. - To cook, use a large skillet. Heat it over
medium-high heat with enough oil to thinly film the bottom. Meanwhile, add the
yolk to the pork, break it with a fork or chopstick. Turn, slide, and rub the
chops against each other to coat all sides with the sticky yolk. Put a handful
of cornmeal on a plate nearby and coat each chop in cornmeal, laying it down in
the skillet once you’re done. You’ll likely be able to cook 2 chops at a time
so let the other two rest on the plate after you’ve coated them. - Pan-fry the chops for 3 or 4 minutes per side,
adjusting the heat as needed, until cooked through and crisp. Insert a knife,
if you’d like to test. Wipe the skillet clean between batches if there is too
much cornmeal residue, before adding more oil. - Serve the pork chops immediately with the nuoc
cham, if you like. This is knife and fork food.
What do you do with pork chops? I also love pork steaks cut from the shoulder. Here are two great Vietnamese ways with pork steaks. You could certain apply the ideas below to a thin-cut pork chop:
Joshua Hampton (Cooking Classes San Diego)
I, too, love pork chops. They're so easy to cook and you can't go wrong with them. Thanks for sharing this delightful recipe.
Leah
How timely! We had pork chops for dinner last night. I double dipped them in egg and milk mixture and flour seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. I got these chops from Costco which are more than an inch thick and very lean (no bones). I sliced them to half the thickness and experimented with a dry brine for about 10 minutes (all the time I have) and rinsed them with copious amounts of water. Quick, easy dinner. My husband had them with apple sauce, I had mine with rice and a salad.
Andrea Nguyen
My pleasure!
Andrea Nguyen
Perfect way to treat the thick chops, Leah.