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Honey-glazed pork chops with rice and asparagus on a white plate
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Meaningful Eats

Sweet & Sour Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops {Gluten-Free, Paleo}

6 servings
Brined Balsamic Honey-Glazed Pork Chops! Brining is the SECRET to making these glazed pork chops moist and flavorful!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Author Erin Collins

Ingredients

For the Brine:

  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 cups water
  • 3 cups ice
  • 4-8 pork chops I prefer bone-in, but any kind will work

For the Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar*
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 scallions pale and white parts only, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter omit for dairy-free
  • .125 tsp salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

To make the brine:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the salt, sugar, rosemary, bay leaves, and 4 cups of water. Stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.
  • Pour the liquid into a bowl and add the remaining cup of cold water and the ice. Stir until the ice dissolves and the liquid is chilled. Add the pork chops, cover and refrigerate for 3-8 hours. Longer than 8 hours may make the meat overly salty.

For the glaze:

  • Combine the balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, scallions, and rosemary in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stir until the honey is dissolved.
  • Reduce to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes until slightly reduced and thick. Whisk in the butter and season with salt and pepper.

To cook the pork:

  • Remove the pork from the brine and rinse with cold water. Pat the pork dry and season with pepper. Do not salt it. In a skillet, heat some oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the pork and cook on each side for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. Larger chops will take longer than thinner ones.
  • Transfer the cooked pork chops to a platter and drizzle with the glaze. Enjoy!

Notes

*Be sure to find a brand of balsamic vinegar with no added caramel color. Caramel color can sometimes contain gluten.

Nutrition

Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 9550mg | Potassium: 452mg | Sugar: 55g | Vitamin A: 295IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg