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Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Prune Compote

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on October 6, 2014

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Prune Compote

Ingredients

4 (8- to 10-ounce) bone-in pork rib chops, ½ inch thick, trimmedSalt and pepper 1 tablespoon ground fennel 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons minced shallot 1 cup pitted prunes, chopped½ cup port ¼ cup cider vinegar ½ teaspoon grated orange zest plus ¼ cup juice⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Before You Begin

To prevent the pork chops from curling while they cook, cut two slits about 2 inches apart through the fat and connective tissue on one side of each chop.

Instructions

  1. Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt, pepper and 2 teaspoons fennel. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add pork and cook until well browned and meat registers 140 degrees, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to platter and tent loosely with foil.
  2. Add shallot to now-empty skillet and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add prunes, port, vinegar, orange zest and juice, cayenne, and remaining 1 teaspoon fennel and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, about 8 minutes. Add any accumulated pork juices to compote and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon compote over pork and serve.
Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Prune Compote

Fennel-Crusted Pork Chops with Prune Compote

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 (8- to 10-ounce) bone-in pork rib chops, ½ inch thick, trimmed
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
½ cup port
¼ cup cider vinegar
½ teaspoon grated orange zest plus ¼ cup juice
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Ingredients

4 (8- to 10-ounce) bone-in pork rib chops, ½ inch thick, trimmed
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
½ cup port
¼ cup cider vinegar
½ teaspoon grated orange zest plus ¼ cup juice
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Ingredients

4 (8- to 10-ounce) bone-in pork rib chops, ½ inch thick, trimmed
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 cup pitted prunes, chopped
½ cup port
¼ cup cider vinegar
½ teaspoon grated orange zest plus ¼ cup juice
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Why This Recipe Works

We cook the compote in the skillet after browning the chops, which minimizes cleanup while maximizing taste, as the pork drippings help flavor the compote.

Before You Begin

To prevent the pork chops from curling while they cook, cut two slits about 2 inches apart through the fat and connective tissue on one side of each chop.

Instructions

  1. Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt, pepper and 2 teaspoons fennel. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add pork and cook until well browned and meat registers 140 degrees, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to platter and tent loosely with foil.
  2. Add shallot to now-empty skillet and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add prunes, port, vinegar, orange zest and juice, cayenne, and remaining 1 teaspoon fennel and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, about 8 minutes. Add any accumulated pork juices to compote and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon compote over pork and serve.

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