Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Pear and Soy-Ginger Glaze

Pork, the self-proclaimed "other white meat", is surprisingly lean which makes it a nice healthy alternative to chicken or turkey. Here are a few nutritional stats on popular cuts of pork to back up that claim.

Pork Tenderloin - Total Fat 2.98g - Saturated Fat 1.02g
Skinless chicken breast - Total Fat 3.03g - Saturated Fat 0.86g
Boneless loin chop - Total Fat 5.17g - Saturated Fat 1.77g

People often over cook pork, drying it out and making it less than yummy. This pan-seared recipe is a delicious way to keep your pork chops juicy.

Here's how:
I started by lightly breading 4 pork chops with a mixture of the following ingredients.

1/2 cup flour
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

I set those aside while I prepared the pear and soy ginger glaze.

Here are the ingredients:
1/2 cup pear nectar
1/2 cup packed golden brown sugar
3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp grated fresh gingerroot
1/4 tsp cayenne
4 firm but ripe pears, peeled, halved lengthwise, cored and cut into 1/2 inch wedges
2 tsp corn starch

Bring the pear nectar to simmer in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, gingeroot and cayenne. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and sauce begins to simmer.

Add the pears and stir to coat. Baste the pears frequently, until they are barely tender (about 4 minutes). Then stir the cornstarch into the mixture and simmer till it thickens slightly. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and set it aside and wipe out the skillet.

Using the same pan heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and swirl to coat pan. Add the pork chops and brown them on each side, turning just once, about two minutes per side. Turn the heat to low and pour the pear glaze over the top. Then cover the skillet and cook until chops are cooked through and the pears are tender, about 5 minutes.

Here's the Klein Fitness Breakdown:

Prep ease: 4 out of 5 stars (first time searing :) )

Taste: 5 out of 5 stars

Pan-Seared Chops:
Serving Size: 6-8 ounces or 1 chop
Amount per Serving

• Calories 441
• Total Fat 10g
• Saturated Fat 2g
• Cholesterol 50mg
• Sodium 600mg
• Total Carbohydrate 73g
• Protein 21g
  
• Fiber 7g

Total Meal - 441 calories!

Overall opinion: Delicious and classy and a nice change of pace but not the leanest option ever. This one has impressive date night written all over it.