Roast pork chops – lipsmackingly good, especially if they’re stuffed.
Posted on March 24, 2010 by Nina Timm in pork
Roast pork chops makes my heart beat faster and my breathing speed rapidly increases. Not only is roast pork one of the tastier meats for me, but it is a very high quality protein with lots and lots of vitamins and minerals, which is excellent for boosting our immune systems and keeping us healthy.
Our bodies need small but vital amounts of minerals to remain healthy. Roast pork chops is a very reliable source of some of these minerals:
ron -Iron carries oxygen from the lungs to the brain and muscles in the body. It helps to build and maintain a healthy immune system, which helps our bodies to fight infections. The iron found in pork is heme-iron, which is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron (found in plant foods).
Calsium, Potassium, Phosphorus and sodium keep our bones healthy and strong.
Zinc -Needed for optimal functioning of the immune system as well as wound healing and healthy hair and skin.
Energy – Although we need to watch our consumption of fat, it has to remain an important part of a balanced diet. It supplies the body with energy and protects the vital organs such as the kidneys.
Essential Fatty Acids and fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K. – Pork contains high amounts of the good polyunsaturated fatty acids, but low amounts of bad cholesterol and saturated fatty acids if you compare it with other meats. People suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or heart health, can safely include about 500g of lean pork (divided into smaller portions) in their weekly eating plan.
We often eat pork in the Timm household. Nothing beats a big old pork butt, slow-roasted in the oven, until it is fall off the fork tender or a pork fillet stuffed with porcini and sun dried tomatoes. Pork schnitzels all golden and crispy and de-boned pork neck braised with coriander and beer feature on our menu at least once or twice a month.
This time I wanted to stuff some pork chops so I knew I had to ask the butcher for some extra thick cuts(2.5cm/ 1 inch).
Roast pork chops with macadamia nuts and sun dried tomatoes
Ingredients
4 pork loin chops – 2.5cm/1in thick
olive oil
salt/pepper
For the stuffing
50 gr macadamia nuts
5-6 sun-dried tomatoes – marinaded in olive oil
fresh thyme
a tbsp fresh bread crumbs
salt/pepper
zest of 1 lemon
Method
Preheat oven to 180C
Place all the ingredients for the stuffing in a blender and blitz until it is a chunky puree.Trim all the excess fat off the cutlets and make an incision on the side of the chops to create pockets. Open the pocket and fill the cavity with some of the stuffing. Secure with a toothpick and repeat the process with all the chops. Rub some olive oil on the chops and season with salt and pepper. Heat some oil in a pan and brown the chops on both sides. Finish the roasting process in the oven until your chops are cooked all the way through. About 20 minutes I would say……if the juices run clear when pricked with a fork, it is cooked.
I served these delicious roast pork chops with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms.
*This is a very rich meal and definitely good for the weight conscientious amongst us, but I console myself with the fact that macadamia nuts macadamia nuts like all non-animal foods contain no cholesterol. But they are remarkable in the fact that their fat contains over 86% monounsaturated fatty acids.
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I know some pork lovers here too 😉 Your pork chops look so good and such a and wonderful-sounding preparation.
I love the addition of macadamias – one of my favourite nuts!
We don't eat pork as often as we should but I do love a good roast and chop now and then.
My husband will love this one! He gets tired of the "same old" very easily! Thanks.
Jessy
jessyburke88@gmail.com
http://www.extremehomeworkout.com
We love pork chops also. Yours look so delicious! Love the nuts too! Get it is very tasty!
love the idea of the sun dried tomatoes 🙂
Wonderful!! PPD
You are brilliant in the kitchen Nina – these chops look amazing.
I love stuffing meats, and this particular stuffing sounds delicious!
I love pork – never thought to stuff my chops with anything as interesting and nice as that.
Another 'must make' from your delicious blog! That chop looks soooo good!
This looks seriously yummy, Nina! I must say, I also get palputations when I hear the word…PORK!
This is on the dinner menu for this week.
Once it's pork, give it to me any which way!
Sadly a lot of the pork that we can find in our neighbourhood are of the horrible and plastic variety but I have had some really good pork too
Pork, stuffed, delicious are we. Food Haiku indeed!
Those pork chops look aboslutely mouthwatering! Love the flavors here and the macadamia nuts must add great texture in addition to flavor.
Oh Nina, you had me at hello!! Macadamia nuts and sundried tomatoes are simly the BESt combination, and I adore pork chops. Now, all I need is some really thick pork chops…