Description
Succulent maple glazed pork chops bring sweet Canadian maple magic to your dinner plate. Bold flavors mingle with caramelized edges, promising a simple yet elegant meal you’ll savor with pure culinary delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 bone-in pork chops (1-inch thick, about 8 ounces / 226 grams each)
Glaze and Flavor Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) bourbon (optional)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) vegetable oil for cooking
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Brine Ingredients (optional):
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) salt
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) sugar
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Enhance pork chops’ flavor and tenderness by immersing them in a salt and sugar brine for 30 minutes to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Carefully remove chops from brine and thoroughly pat dry with paper towels, ensuring surface moisture is eliminated.
- Generously season both sides of the pork chops with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Craft the maple glaze by whisking together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, bourbon, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder in a small saucepan.
- Simmer the glaze over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring periodically until the mixture reduces and thickens to a syrupy consistency.
- Preheat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add vegetable oil to create a perfect searing environment.
- Carefully place seasoned pork chops into the hot skillet, searing for 3-4 minutes on each side until a rich golden-brown crust develops.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and liberally brush the chops with the prepared maple glaze.
- Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes per side, repeatedly basting with glaze and monitoring the internal temperature until it reaches 145°F.
- Transfer the glazed pork chops from the skillet and allow them to rest for 5 minutes, enabling the juices to redistribute.
- Finish by drizzling any remaining glaze over the rested pork chops, enhancing their final presentation and flavor profile.
Notes
- Brining boosts moisture and tenderness, preventing dry pork chops during cooking.
- Use bone-in chops for richer flavor and more juicy results, especially thick-cut versions.
- Control heat carefully to avoid burning the maple glaze, which caramelizes quickly due to sugar content.
- Substitute bourbon with apple juice or chicken stock for alcohol-free version if needed.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 405
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 615 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg