Mediterranean pork chops
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ingredients:
- 4 pork chops (bone-in or boneless), about 1 inch thick
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled (for garnish)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
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Season Pork Chops:
- Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels. In a small bowl, mix together dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the pork chops.
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Sear Pork Chops:
- In an oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden-brown crust.
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Add Aromatics:
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
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Transfer to Oven:
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast the pork chops for 15-18 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
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Prepare Mediterranean Toppings:
- In a bowl, mix cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and lemon juice.
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Serve:
- Once the pork chops are cooked, remove them from the oven. Spoon the Mediterranean topping mixture over the pork chops.
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Garnish:
- Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
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Serve Hot:
- Serve the Mediterranean Pork Chops hot, accompanied by your favorite sides.
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Enjoy!
- Enjoy the flavorful combination of Mediterranean spices and toppings with juicy pork chops.
Note:
- Adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your pork chops.
- You can marinate the pork chops in the spice mixture for a few hours before cooking for enhanced flavor.
- Feel free to customize the toppings with other Mediterranean ingredients like artichokes or sun-dried tomatoes.
