This is one of those perfect comfort foods that works well any time of year. It’s light enough to enjoy on a hot summer evening, yet hearty enough to warm you up in the middle of winter. Juicy pork chops are seared perfectly and braised in a bright and flavourful sauce of ripe tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.
Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make and can be finished in under 20 minutes! Scroll past the recipe card for a more in-depth procedure with photos.
Pork Chops with Balsamic Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 bone-in Pork Chops
- 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 large Shallot, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Thyme (fresh or dried)
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 1 1/2 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/2 cup Red Wine
- 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/4 cup low-sodium Chicken or Vegetable Stock
- 1 Tbsp Cold Butter, cut into 1 cm cubes
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add 1 tsp oil to a large pan or cast-iron skillet and heat on medium-high. Season pork and sear on both sides until browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Turn heat to medium and add onions, cook until soft. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, be careful not to let it burn. Stir in tomatoes, thyme and chili flakes.
- Add wine, vinegar and stock and mix until combined. Return chops to pan, reduce heat and simmer until cooked through and sauce has reduced by half.
- Season with salt and black pepper and stir in cubed butter. Serve immediately.
Notes
The addition of butter gives this dish a wonderful depth and mouthfeel. However, it can easily be omitted.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 590Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 152mgSodium: 848mgCarbohydrates: 32gFiber: 4gSugar: 22gProtein: 45g
We are not certified nutritionists and make no claims to be so. The nutritional information given here is intended for informational purposes only. These nutritional calculations are rounded numbers dependant on the certain ingredients and amounts in the recipe and are by no means perfect.
Pork Chops with Balsamic Tomatoes Ingredients
To make these tasty braised pork chops, you need a few basic ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your pantry.
- Bone-in Pork Chops – As opposed to the often cheaper boneless loin chops, these are juicer and have much more flavour.
- Shallots – You can use any regular onion if shallots aren’t available.
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Chili Flakes
- Tomatoes – Preferably smaller varieties such as grape or cherry. Chopped regular tomatoes will also work, though it won’t look as pretty.
- Red Wine – Some for the food and some for the chef.
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Chicken Stock – In a pinch you could omit this altogether, but it gives a little balance to the heavy wine.
- A bit of oil and butter
How to Make Balsamic Tomato Braised Pork Chops
The best way to make this dish is in a cast-iron pan, as it distributes the heat better. Though any pan will do. After seasoning the pork chops with salt, sear them in a bit of oil very well on both sides until they have a nice brown crust, on medium-high heat, this should be a minute or two per side.
Remove the chops and set aside. Cook the shallots, garlic, tomatoes, chili and thyme according to the recipe card below. When you add the red wine, be sure to scrape the pan well to loosen up all those pork bits stuck to the pan — that’s all flavour. After adding the rest of the liquid, put the chops back into the pan and simmer until the pork is cooked through.
Season well with salt and fresh ground pepper. You can add some flat-leaf (never curly!) parsley as well for a bit of freshness, though it’s not necessary.
Monte au Beurre
Just before serving, you have the option of adding an extra touch. Remove the chops from the pan and stir in small cubes of cold butter. Literally translating to “mount with butter”, this is an old-school French technique that gives depth, flavour, mouthfeel and a nice shine to sauces. It’s not necessary, but it can take an already great sauce and make it amazing!
Can I Make This in a Slow Cooker?
Absolutely, though it somewhat defeats the purpose because it’s already so quick to prepare. What you can do, is swap the pork chops for a pork roast and increase the amount of other ingredients. Just be sure to sear the pork first to get that added flavour.
The overall outcome won’t be quite the same, as the tomatoes will break down considerably during cooking. But if you’re a fan of using a slow cooker, this is a great recipe to add to your collection!
Like it? Pin It!
