Stuffed Pork Chops: All Jazzed Up - Dinner Tonight - Cooking

Stuffed Pork Chops: All Jazzed Up!

No Comments | Written on January 31, 2012 at 3:00 pm, by The Editors

Stuffed pork chops with apples Pork chops are a great choice for dinner any night of the week, but you can make them a little more special by filling them with a flavorful stuffing. Suddenly, plain old chops become a gourmet meal, without spending a bundle. You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to flavor combos for stuffed pork chops. A mix of fruit and nuts will give the pork a bit of holiday flair, while a filling made with pine nuts, spinach, and cheese will take your meal in an Italian direction.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to stuffing a chop—you can create a little pocket in the side of the chop and hollow out an area with the handle of a wooden spoon, or simply cut the chop open with a knife, being careful not to cut all the way through. The key is to keep the stuffing contained. And when you’re cooking the chop, it’s a good idea to use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of the chop, since the stuffing can make the pork cook more slowly in the center. (A temperature of 145 Farenheit is safe.) Happy stuffing!

Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Chops: These winning pork chops, filled with savory spinach and mushrooms, are also glazed with a slightly sweet ginger sauce (you can substitute orange marmalade for lovely citrus notes).

Apple-stuffed Pork Chops: Apples and pork chops are a classic combination. In addition to being cooked over applewood chips, and being stuffed with grilled apples, apple juice gives the mixture an ever-so-sweet flavor, and a delicious corn-bread filling (complete with pork or turkey sausage), adds texture and a smooth finish.

Sausage-and-Apple-Stuffed Iowa Chops: These pork chops explode with flavor. And although both this recipe and the one above have stuffings made with sausage, corn bread and apples, there’s a big flavor difference. These extra-thick chops are made with spicy sausage, and have a tart edge from including lemon juice and apple cider (although juice is an option).

Pork Chops with Currant-Nut Stuffing: Sweet-tart currents give unexpected brightness to this savory stuffing made with toasted hazelnuts or pecans. This dish may look elaborate, but it only takes 20 minutes of prep time. And garnishing the dish with fresh sage leaves (or fresh raspberries in season), adds color and mellow flavor.

Fruit-stuffed Pork Chops: Apricots, raisins, and apples team up in this cardamom-scented fruit stuffing. And if that’s not enough fruit for you, a citrusy mix of orange marmalade and sherry (or orange juice) is brushed on the chops while they’re cooking.

Stuffed Pork Chops: Buttery crackers give this fruit-and-nut stuffing rich, luxurious flavor, and a glaze made from jam takes these chops over the top.

Grilled Pork Chops Stuffed with Cheese, Spinach, and Pine Nuts: Provolone melts into a pool of gooey goodness when these chops hit the grill. Stone-ground mustard is rubbed on the inside of each chop before cooking, giving them a delicious tang.