Clean Eating Weeknight Balsamic Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest cut of pork chops? ›

The acidity from the vinegar helps to slowly break down the proteins in the pork chops, making them deliciously tender once cooked.

Flavor Enhancement: Vinegar adds a tangy and slightly acidic flavor to the pork, enhancing its natural taste and complementing a wide range of seasonings and spices. Tenderness: The acidic properties of vinegar help to break down the muscle fibers in the pork, resulting in a more tender and juicy end product.

The meat may be presoaked in a solution of water and acid — often white vinegar or lemon juice — then rinsed under running water prior to being seasoned with a dry rub or marinade, after which it's cooked or frozen.

You have probably heard it many times already: don't eat too much red meat or processed foods. But research shows processed red meats, like bacon, hot dogs, and salami are the biggest problem.

Overall — regardless of cooking method — pork chops are a very rich source of selenium. This is a mineral involved in your immune and endocrine systems, and it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties ( 2 ). Pork chops are also high in zinc, and they offer good amounts of: iron.

Lean pork is every bit as good for your body as lean beef and chicken. In one study, substituting lean pork for beef and chicken led to less body fat and better heart health. For a spicy take, try ancho-rubbed pork tenderloin. It's lean, flavorful, and perfect for grilling.

Wet Brining with Baking Soda to Tenderize Meat

Whereas an oversaturated saltwater brine might make your cut less filet-like, a baking soda wet brine expedites the tenderizing process and limits the potential for oversaturation.

An apple cider vinegar marinade will not only make the meat tender but will also kill all the bacteria on it. Mix ½ cup vinegar, 2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp chilli flakes or chilli powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper powder, 1 tbsp parsley or any other herb and 1 tbsp soy sauce.

Is it better to bake or pan fry pork chops? ›

While there are a number of ways to cook pork chops for dinner, baking is arguably the easiest path to perfection. The hands-off cooking method cooks pork chops gently and evenly without the need for extra fat, resulting in juicy, healthier pork chops that pair well with practically any side dish.

If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe. The pink color can be due to the cooking method or added ingredients.

White Vinegar helps dry out the skin – but it has a secondary purpose of removing the odour! If you are prepared, place the Pork in the Fridge UNCOVERED overnight – the skin will dry out. When you pre-heat your oven, remove the pork from the fridge and let it return to room temperature.

You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help. If you are just looking to brine one (1) pork chop or tenderloin, or up to 4 at a time, a quick ratio of salt to water is 4 cups of water and 3 Tbsp of salt / for 30 minutes up to 4 hours.