Porchetta-Style Pork Chops ‘Everyone Is Italian on Sunday’
Every week, Yahoo Food spotlights a cookbook that stands out from all the rest. This week’s cookbook is Everyone is Italian on Sunday by Rachael Ray (Atria Books). A long-time Food Network star, Ray is the founder and editorial director of Everyday with Rachael Ray, and hosts her own syndicated talk show, Rachael Ray. Read more about Yahoo Food’s Cookbook of the Week here.
Photograph: Frances Janisch
By Rachael Ray
Pork Chops in the Style of Porchetta
Serves 4
“In the style of porchetta” means with fennel, rosemary, garlic, and, for me, lemon. Many Italian recipes refer to this manner of flavoring, including recipes for roast chicken, rabbit, pork chops, and roasts. If you crave porchetta but don’t have four days to plan your meal, these chops are a great idea for dinner.
1 organic lemon
4 thick-cut, bone-in pork chops (about 1½ inches thick)
4 tablespoons olive oil
6 cloves garlic: 2 chopped, 4 smashed
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped
Coarsely ground pepper
Kosher salt
2 bulbs fennel, trimmed and cut into 8 wedges each
8 large shallots, quartered lengthwise
4 medium potatoes, cut into wedges
½ cup dry white wine or chicken stock
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Grate the zest from the lemon. Halve the lemon and set aside.
Place the chops in a shallow dish with 2 tablespoons of the oil, the chopped garlic, fennel seeds, rosemary, lemon zest, and about 1 ½ teaspoons pepper. Season the chops liberally with salt and slather the porchetta seasoning evenly all over the chops, turning to coat both sides. Let stand for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the fresh fennel, shallots, potatoes, smashed garlic, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat, then arrange on baking sheets. Place the lemon halves cut side down on the baking sheet. Roast until the potatoes are crispy and the fennel and shallots are caramelized at the edges, about 35 minutes.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chops to the hot pan and brown for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Transfer to the oven and roast for about 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and douse the skillet with the wine. Squeeze the juice from the roasted lemon halves over the top.
Serve the chops with the roasted vegetables alongside.
Reprinted with permission from Everyone is Italian on Sunday by Rachael Ray (Atria Books).
More meat dishes to cook on Sundays:
Roasted Leg of Lamb with Black Cherry-Pomegranate Salsa
Roasted Pork Loin with Prosciutto & Rosemary-Fig Butter
Italian Meatballs, New Jersey-Style, From ‘The Chef Next Door’
