When we think about rhubarb, it’s all too easy to get bogged down in thinking of it used strictly in sweet ways; in pies, jams, or in compotes. The fact is, there are plenty of opportunities to use rhubarb in more savory applications, as well. Since my first taste of spicy rhubarb salsa (I posted about this earlier in the week), I imagined swiping forkfuls of fatty pork chop through the sweet/tart mixture. It’s a flavor combination that works on the same principle as eating a slice of cheddar cheese with your apple pie, or more closely, to having a side of chilled applesauce with your garlic-studded pork roast. The tartness from the rhubarb and cherry compote perfectly complements the pork, with just a hint of savory onion in the background. It’s magical stuff, that I can imagine spooning onto pork (as below) or onto skillet-browned chicken breasts. Enjoy.
Pork Chops with Cherry-Rhubarb Sauce
Adapted from a recipe by Martha Stewart; Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 8 to 10 ounces rhubarb, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 4 pork loin chops, (each 1/2 inch thick and 6 to 8 ounces)
Method:
- Combine cherries, vinegar, and 1/4 cup very hot water in a small bowl. Set aside and let soften for ten minutes.
- In a small saucepan or skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about ten minutes.
- Add cherry mixture, rhubarb, and sugar, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until rhubarb has softened, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and remove from heat.
- Season both sides of pork chop generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Cook pork until browned and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side. Top with warm sauce and serve.
About the Author: Malcolm Bedell
My first memories of cooking start in Maine at six years old, when I wore a yellow rainslicker to avoid getting spattered by the bacon I was frying in a skillet. My interest in both Mexican cooking and recreating classic New England dishes from scratch developed while living in Mexico, on a steady diet of pork and habanero peppers. You can see more of my writing and photography online on Serious Eats, the Huffington Post, BlogHer, and Foodista, as well as in print for Downeast, Indulge, and Cigar Snob magazines.
fromawaymaine
fromawaymaine
We're Jillian and Malcolm. We cook comfort food from around the world, designed to make you feel right at home, wherever you are. Join us as we explore Maine's vibrant food culture and cook New England's classic dishes, as well as our favorite recipes From Away. 
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