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Caramelised Pork Chops with Braised Greens

(As Featured in May2014 Nourish Magazine) These Caramelised Sugarfree Pork Chops are sweet, juicy and a breeze to make and with the addition of braised greens quite healthy too. Other pork cuts can also be used – both pork belly and spare ribs are great in this dish. 

Caramelised Pork Chops

You know those crispy, juicy caramelised pork bites that can be found at many of the city’s Asianesque restaurants? Cooked in a sugary masterstock then deep fried and coated in a thick layer of caramel? My head’s spinning just thinking about the amount of sugar in those…

However, I do like the concept, so my version of caramelised pork chops sans the sugar is pretty simple really and with the addition of braised greens quite healthy too. Oh, by the way, did you know that both leek and bok choy have a knack for helping our bodies metabolise fat? Perfect if you prefer to use a slightly fattier cut of pork like the pork belly or spare ribs, which are a more affordable cut per kilo too.

I’d encourage you to find free-range pork chops or whichever cut you prefer and use organic stock because it tastes “fresher” – some regular brands have that burnt bottom of the pan aroma lingering around… From then on in it’s pretty simple: just mix the stock with some spices and rice syrup, pour over the meat in a roasting dish, seal with foil and shove it in the oven. For the next one and a half hours relax clean the house, wash up, do the washing, take kids to music lessons or just take in the wonderful aromas of Asian spices that will begin to fill your house while doing any of the above.

Caramelised Pork Chops

Caramelised Pork Chops
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Caramelised Pork Chops with Braised Greens

A simple sugarfree oven-baked Caramelised Pork Chop dish that can also be made with other pork cuts such as pork belly, spare ribs or scotch fillet.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

For the Caramelised Pork Chops:

  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/3 cup rice syrup
  • 1 tsp five spice powder
  • 4 pork chops
  • 1 sprig spring onions sliced
  • 1 red long chilli seeds removed, sliced

For the Braised Greens:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 in leek white part only, sliced lengthwayshalf
  • 1 bunch boy choy sliced lengthwaysin halves
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds

To serve:

  • steamed rice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180C (160C fan forced, 350F, gas mark 4).
  • Mix together stock, soy sauce, rice syrup and five spice powder. Pour mixture into a baking dish large enough to hold the chops. Arrange chops in the dish and sprinkle over with sliced spring onions and chilli. Cover with foil and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the pork chops are tender.
  • (If you would like to use the same pan for the greens, simply toss them with olive oil and add them on top of the chops for the last 15 minutes of cooking then sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve).
  • Heat oil in a medium-sized pan over medium high heat. Add leeks and allow to caramelise on both sides before adding the bok choy. Stir fry for another minute, then add water, cover and lower heat to low. Braise for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve.
  • Serve caramelised pork chops with steamed rice and braised greens. Garnish with extra spring onion and chilli, if you like.
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7 comments

jesusan July 15, 2013 at 10:55 am

This recipe sounds wonderful!

Reply
Eha July 15, 2013 at 4:09 pm

Wonderfully tasty recipe: have not come up against ‘rice syrup’ as yet: have to do some homework!

Reply
Caramelised Pork Chops with Braised Greens Recipe | Things To Do Yourself - DIY July 18, 2013 at 5:33 am

[…] Caramelised Pork Chops with Braised Greens […]

Reply
Julie September 24, 2013 at 11:50 am

How does this recipe ends up “sugar free” when rice syrup is mostly sugar?

Reply
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook September 24, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Hi Julie, good question and I’m glad you’ve asked. Unlike honey, maple syrup, sugar and agave, the sweetener in rice syrup is actually a chain of complex carbohydrates similar to sugar in the sweet flavour, but containing no fructose. Fructose is the sugar that’s processed in the body by the liver and is said to have a toxic effect (similar to that of alcohol also processed by the liver) on the body when consumed excessively. Rice malt syrup’s polyoligosaccharide “sugars” are actually not absorbed by the body into the blood nor processed by the liver at all and act similarly to how fibre does.

Reply
20 of the Best Paleo Pork Chops Recipes December 13, 2013 at 4:49 am

[…] 5. Caramelised Pork Chops with Braised Greens […]

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Glenn May 1, 2015 at 7:51 pm

Blitzed the family with the carbonara pasta. They couldn’t believe the caramelised pork chops. At last, gourmet recipes that actually produce the results. Love this site xxxx

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