Goat Cheese Stuffed Pork Chops By Stephanie Olzinski Rdn Recipes

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Place the spinach in a microwave safe steamer or bowl with loosely fitted cover with 1 T water. Cook high 1 minute or until wilted. Drain water from spinach.
• In a bowl combine softened goat cheese, wilted spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Set mixture aside.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a slit in each pork chop, being careful not to cut through to other side but making it deep enough to create a pocket.
• Spoon spinach mixture into the pocket of each pork chop.
• Place breadcrumbs on a plate and press the pork on both sides into the crumbs to coat.
• Heat oil and butter in a large non stick skillet over medium/high heat. Once butter is melted, add pork chops to pan.
• Cook pork about 4-5 minutes until nicely browned then turn over. Brown other side and cook until no longer pink in the middle. *See Notes*
• Serve with potatoes, rice or pasta.

PORK CHOPS STUFFED WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Warm the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook until combined, about 2 more minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Add the goat cheese and the cream cheese. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Use a sharp knife to cut a pocket into the thickest portion of the pork chop. Stuff each pocket with 1/4 of the spinach and sun-dried tomato mixture and close the pork around the stuffing. Season the outside of the pork with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl combine the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, and mustard.
• Warm the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot add the pork. Cook until golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pork to a side dish and tent with foil to keep warm. Add the chicken broth mixture to the skillet over medium-high heat. Scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan as the chicken broth simmers. Reduce the broth by half to make a light sauce, about 8 minutes. Spoon some sauce over the pork before serving.

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• heat 2 oil and butter over medium-high heat in a skillet.
• insert paring knife into chop at end away from bone & open a 2 inch hole almost to bone.
• Work knife back & forth until the pocket is almost the full size of chop. Set aside.
• Saute celery in melted oil/butter mixture for 3-4 minute. Add chopped onion and saute for 5-6 minutes more.
• Remove onions & celery with slotted spoon, reserving as much oil/butter combination as possible. Remove skillet from heat.
• Mix 1/2 of the goat cheese and the stripped leaves from 2 sprigs of the thyme with the celery & onion in a bowl & allow cheese to slightly melt from the heat of the vegetables.
• When mixture is cool enough to work with (3-5 minutes) divide stuffing evenly and stuff chops. Do not be afraid of over stuffing. Season both sides with salt & pepper.
• Return skillet to a medium-high heat and bring to temperature.
• Sear stuffed chops, turning once until browned on each side. About 2-3 minutes per side.
• Once chops are browned add the 1/2 cup of wine (adjust as necessary. the liquid should reach 1/2 way up the sides of the chops) and the remaining sprig of thyme.
• Immediately reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
• Cook at simmer 30 minutes or until internal temp is 160.
• Once chops are done, remove & keep warm.
• Discard thyme sprig.
• Increase heat to high & add remaining goat cheese.
• Stir pan sauce constantly until reduced by half.
• Plate with kluski or egg noodles & green beans. Pour a generous amount of sauce over chops and reserve the rest for you and your partner.

GOAT CHEESE STUFFED PORK CHOPS BY STEPHANIE OLZINSKI, RDN

Steps:

• Place the spinach in a microwave safe steamer or bowl with a loosely fitter cover with 1 tablespoon of water. Cook high 1 minute or until wilted; drain water from spinach.
• In a bowl combine softened goat cheese, wilted spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Set mixture aside.
• Using a sharp knife, cut a slit in each pork chop deep enough to create a pocket.
• Spoon spinach mixture into the pocket of each pork chop. Place breadcrumbs/almond meal on a plate and press the pork on both sides into the crumbs to coat.
• Heat oil and butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork chops to pan and cook pork about 4-5 minutes until brown, then turn over and cook completely until the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
• Notes: Serve with sides as desired, for example, roasted potatoes with the skin on and a side salad.

PORK CHOPS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt 1 tbsp butter in 1 tsp olive oil in medium sized, oven proof sauce pan over medium/medium high heat.
• Add red onion. Let cook, stirring constantly for 20 minutes.
• While onions cook, mix 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp minced garlic, the 2 tbsp chicken broth and 1 tbsp olive oil in a small bowl.
• Add 2 tbsp of chicken broth to onions at a time, letting sizzle and cook away. Repeat until no broth remains.
• Butterfly pork chops and sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Spread goat cheese evenly inside each pork chop, leaving room around edges.
• Once onions are brown and caramelized, add a spoonful of onions to top of goat cheese in each pork chop. There will be onions remaining in the pan. Add lemon mixture to pan with onions and simmer, scraping down the sides of the pan.
• Close pork chops and dust with flour. If you are having trouble keeping them together, use toothpicks or mini skewers. However it is better if you can work without, as the escaped goat cheese comes in handy in the sauce later!
• Melt 1 tbsp butter in skillet over medium heat and cook pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side, until seared and brown.
• Put pork chops and any drippings into the pan with the simmering onion/lemon mixture and place in oven.
• Cook for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness, or until cooked through but still tender.
• Remove pan from oven and place back on medium low heat. Remove pork chops and whisk in heavy cream and let come to a bubble. Add parsley. Spoon over pork chops and enjoy!