Smoked Pork Chops with Apple and Maple Syrup Salsa
- 4 smoked pork chops (one per person) bone-in 1" thick
- 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 large shallot- chopped
- 3 tart apples- cored and diced with peel on
- 1 clove of minced garlic
- ¼ of a jalapeno pepper finely diced
- 1 slice of peeled fresh ginger ¼" x 2 inches
- ¼ c. real maple syrup
- Zest from one orange
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat brown the pork chops on both sides with the butter (about 5 minutes per side). Remove from pan. To the pan add the oil, shallot, apples, garlic, pepper and ginger and saute together until the apples are softened (about 10 minutes). Add in the maple syrup and orange zest and stir.
In a large covered baking dish, place the pork chops on the bottom and then top with the salsa mixture. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the ginger slice and serve hot. (serves 4)