This is an incredibly simple dinner idea that goes down in just over 15mins. If you’ve never tried pork, apple and blue cheese before you’re in for a treat. Follow me…
Preparing Pork Chops
I usually go for bone-in pork chops. I find having the bone in helps cook the meat more evenly. I also find the meat around the bone nice and tender. Boneless work well too though if that’s what you have.
Tips for preparing pork chops
Room Temp – Don’t cook the pork straight from the fridge, it’ll release a ton of moisture and cause the meat to go chewy. Bring the pork chops close to room temp before you fry. Pat Dry – Ensure you pat your pork chops with paper towels to remove moisture. Excess moisture will cause them to steam in the pan and prevent the meat from caramelizing properly. Season – A generous seasoning goes a long way here so don’t hold back!
Another thing to mention is the thickness of the fat. You might want to consider making some snips along the line of fat before you fry the pork chops. This will help prevent the chops from curving in the pan when the fat begins to tighten. I tend to wait to see if they curve then snip with kitchen shears if they do. Process shots: lay pork on chopping board (photo 1), pat dry, heavily season and drizzle with oil (photo 2).
Pan Fried Pork Chops
Once you’ve prepped the pork chops they’re ready to hit the pan! In general, you want to treat pork chops as you would a steak. If you’ve cooked a few steaks in your time this is very similar.
Tips for frying pork chops
Hot Pan – You want the pan as hot as you can get it. This will ensure the outside of the pork caramelizes without the inside overcooking. A cast iron skillet works well if you have one. Baste – Once you’ve flipped the chops, drop in butter, rosemary, thyme and garlic. Baste the meat to keep it moist and wrap it in a gorgeous herby, buttery flavour. Sear the Fat – Put that thick strip of fat to good use and sear it on the pan until it’s deep golden. This will render down the fat and get rid of that jelly/rubbery texture.
This is all a fairly quick process, so ensure you’ve got everything ready to go before you add the pork chops to the pan. You don’t want to overcook the meat. Nobody likes dry pork! Process shots: add chops to hot pan (photo 1), fry then flip (photo 2), drop in butter, garlic and herbs (photo 3), baste (photo 4), sear fat (photo 5), lay back in pan (photo 6).
Pork Chops with Apple Sauce and Blue Cheese
I know it might seem like an odd combo at first, but I promise you it totally works. Pork and apple is a match made in heaven, as is apple and blue cheese. Stick it all together and you’ve got yourself one heck of a good time.
Apple Sauce
I use homemade apple sauce, just because it’s way too easy not to. But a good quality store bought will do the trick too.
Does cheese go with pork?
I go for Gorgonzola because it’s nice and creamy. If you want a stronger blue cheese try something like Stilton.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
I actually used to have this dish as a child, but with pork medallions, apple sauce and cheddar. A nice strong cheddar does work well, but personally I find blue cheese offers much more flavour. Process shots: add apple sauce to pork chops (photo 1), top with blue cheese then broil/grill (photo 2).
Serving Pork Chops
Once the cheese has melted it’s important to rest the pork before serving. This will give time for the meat to relax and retain its juices. From there I usually spoon over some of the pan juices and finish with some fresh thyme. Below I’ve served with Roasted Baby Potatoes and Roasted Broccolini. For another quick, easy and delicious pork chop recipe check out my Honey Garlic Pork Chops and Creamy Lemon Thyme Pork Chops! For more pork and apple combos check out my Pork and Apple Burgers and Honey Mustard Sausage Tray Bake! Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these pork chops and apple sauce shall we?!
How to make Blue Cheese Apple Pork Chops (Full Recipe & Video)
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