Cherry Bomb Chops Recipes

CHERRY GLAZED PORK CHOPS WITH SMASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack 5 to 6 inches below the heat source and preheat the broiler to high.
• Pierce the potatoes all over with a fork. Put the potatoes on a microwave-safe plate with 2 tablespoons water and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave until tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Carefully uncover, drain the potatoes and transfer them to a baking sheet. Top with 2 tablespoons olive oil and half the chopped thyme. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Smash each potato by pressing down with a metal spatula until it flattens. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Sear until golden brown on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook until golden brown on the second side, about 2 minutes more (the pork chops will not be cooked through at this point). Transfer to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the shallot, dried cherries and the remaining thyme and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/4 cup water and simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the cherry jam and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Transfer 2 tablespoons of the glaze and the remaining 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil to make a vinaigrette. Set aside.
• Broil the potatoes until warm and golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Stir 2 tablespoons water into the remaining glaze in the skillet and bring to a simmer over high heat. Add the pork chops and any juices that have accumulated on the plate and turn over several times to coat with glaze. Return the pan to the oven and broil until the glaze is bubbly and thick and the pork chops are cooked through, about 2 minutes. (The pork chops should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F when measured with an instant-read thermometer.)
• Meanwhile, add the salad greens to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Transfer the pork chops to a serving dish and pour the remaining glaze on top. Serve with the smashed potatoes and salad.

CHERRY BOMB CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine water, kosher salt, and sugar in a saucepan over low heat; cook until sugar and salt dissolve, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Score the skin side of each piece of chicken 2 to 3 times, about 1/8 inch deep. Place chicken pieces in a large bowl or lidded container.
• Puree cherry tomatoes, habanero peppers, garlic, and allspice with the salt and sugar mixture in a blender until smooth.
• Pour tomato brine over chicken pieces, making sure all pieces are covered. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
• Remove chicken pieces and transfer to a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels. Pat chicken pieces dry with more paper towels.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Combine thyme, cumin, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and oil in a small bowl.
• Brush each chicken piece with thyme and oil mixture.
• Cook chicken, skin side down, on the preheated grill for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn each piece and move to indirect heat. Cook until well-browned and meat is no longer pink in the center, 30 to 35 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Brush each piece with Thai sweet chile sauce. Transfer to a plate and allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

MOZARTBOMBE (CHOCOLATE CHERRY BOMBE)

Steps:

• To make the cake, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 6-cup bombe mold or metal bowl and coat it with the bread crumbs. Set aside.
• Place the eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt and lemon zest in a double boiler or in a metal bowl over hot water and whisk constantly until light and creamy. Remove from heat and continue whisking until cool.
• Fold in the flour and gently stir in the butter. Scrape the batter into the prepared mold and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Let cool.
• To make the filling, coarsely chop the cherries. In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the cherry syrup. Place the remaining syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce by half, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in the cornstarch mixture and boil 1 minute more. Stir in the rum and cherries. Let cool completely. Whip the cream to stiff peaks, setting aside 1/2 cup.
• To assemble, unmold the cake and use a serrated knife to cut it into 5 horizontal layers. Place the small cake layer with the rounded side back into the mold. Spoon some of the cherries and syrup over the cake and spread with some of the whipped cream.
• Continue putting the cake back together, filling with the cherry mixture and whipped cream between each layer. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
• To make the glaze, bring the cream to a boil, remove from heat, add the chocolate and stir until melted. Cut out a round piece of heavy cardboard to fit the diameter of the cake. Dip the mold into hot water and invert the bombe onto the cardboard. Use the reserved whipped cream to spread a very thin layer over the outside of the bombe. Place in the freezer just until the cream is quite firm.
• Place the bombe on a rack and ladle the chocolate glaze over it so that it's well covered. Place the bombe, with the cardboard, on a serving plate and use the sliced almonds to make a 2-inch border along the bottom of the bombe, hiding the cardboard. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

PORK CHOPS WITH CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute shallot in oil until tender. Stir in the cherries, wine, vinegar and salt. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the coriander, mustard, salt and pepper; rub over chops. In a large skillet, cook chops in oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 145°. Serve with sauce.

CHERRY BOMB

Steps:

• Muddle lime and mint leaves in a shaker or serving pitcher (if the pitcher is sturdy enough). Add cherry juice, gin, and seltzer and stir to incorporate. Serve over ice-filled glasses.

GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH CHERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Pat the chops dry, and rub them all over with a mixture of the rosemary, salt, pepper and garlic. Cover, and marinate for up to 2 hours at room temperature, or overnight in the refrigerator. Bring the chops back to room temperature before grilling.
• Heat one side of a charcoal or gas grill, and put the rack about 4 inches from the heat source. Cook the chops over the hottest part of the fi re until well seared on both sides, about 3 or 4 minutes per side. Move them to the cool part of the grill, cover and cook until done, anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes, depending on the heat of the fi re and the thickness of the chops. The pork is done when it's just fi rm to the touch, its juices run just slightly pink and the meat is rosy in the center, or when an instant-read thermometer registers 135 degrees in the thickest part of the chop (the temperature will continue to rise as the chops rest). Transfer them to a platter, cover loosely with aluminum foil and let them rest while you make the sauce.
• Put 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the foam subsides, add the shallots, and cook until soft, 2 or 3 minutes. Add the cherries, wine and whatever juices have accumulated around the pork chops; cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces into a thin syrup, 5 or 6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, a little at a time, until it's incorporated into the sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chops, and serve.