Skillet Pork Chops with Pears in Brown Butter

You may wonder how what follows has anything to do with pork chops and pears. Stick with me.

Have you ever been helped by a stranger to the point of making you feel aware of your own un-suaveness? This recently happened to me in the parking ramp of our apartment building. Here’s the scene: a VERY pregnant mama with a too-full bag of groceries, a  toddler without a nap and a kindergartner with her school goods from the day. Now, the vision here is to get everyone and everything from point A to point B in one piece (tear free is just a bonus).

Ya’ll know what actually happens. The toddler collapses to the parking lot (needs lots of cheering to get up), groceries escape from the bag (lemons on the loose), the mama is taking way too deep of breaths (stay calm, this is actually quite funny) and a backpack can no longer be carried (It’s no joke all you have to pack for a 6 year old).  A stranger is witness to all this and kindly offers to hold open the door. Sweet, really. But the problem is that we’re about 5 parking spots away from the door. It’s going to take awhile to get there. We manage to get to the door and somehow he’s still there, holding it open. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Through the alley. Another door (he holds that open) and now some stairs. At this point the Toddler falls to the ground and this time won’t get up. Lots and lots of loud tears. Mama side holds/drags her up the stairs, begging the lemons to stay put, and for some reason has decided to go up the middle of the staircase. The kind stranger is right behind and can’t get around. Don’t ever underestimate the circumference of a bag of groceries, a preggo mom, a toddler, and two backpacks. At the top of the stairs he manages to race past to the elevator where surely he’s going to make his escape. No, he holds that open too. So many “thank you’s” on the way up and then as he’s leaving for his floor and the door is shutting on his face he calls out “I’m a bartender at the bar down the road, you should stop in for a drink sometime!”

True story.

So, pork chops. What’cha gotta do if something like this happens to you is make these pork chops. They’re so easy and will leave you feeling fancy-ish; not like you barely made it into the door. (Those transitions y’all. Real thing). Here ya go: A quick salt and pepper dry brine on the pork while the pears soften in butter that’s browning.  Rosemary, thyme, garlic, a pinch of cayenne and cinnamon play along nicely.

I just have to say, there is something special about that moment when meat hits a hot skillet. Especially after a long day. I feel the same way about onions cooking. Ahh, the promise of dinner coming.

Toss some greens with dressing or steam some broccoli quick and dinner is served (hot bread is a real bonus here). And if you’re not a toddler, in kindergarten or pregnant, some wine could be nice.

Skillet Pork Chops with Pears in Brown Butter

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• Author: Come Sit At The Table
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Yield: 2-4 1x
• Category: Entree

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Description

Pan seared juicy pork chops with pears in brown butter and herbs.

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Ingredients

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• 4 tablespoons ghee, divided
• Sea Salt (2-4 teaspoons. One teaspoon per pound meat)
• Freshly ground Pepper (1/2 teaspoon)
• 2 – 4 center cut, bone-in pork chops (3/4 in thick, about 1 pound each)
• 2 Bartlett pears, peeled and diced
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 3 sprigs of thyme
• 1 sprig of rosemary
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
• 1/4 cup of water
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne
• Squeeze of lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides (about one teaspoon salt for each pound of pork) and set aside for 30 minutes to 4 hours.
2. While the pork brines, prep your pears.
3. Melt 2 tablespoons ghee in a saucepan over medium high and add in the pears, a pinch of salt, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and sugar (if using), a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Cook for 5 minutes and add in the water. Bring heat to low and let simmer while you cook the pork.
4. Melt 2 tablespoons of ghee in a wide skillet over medium high. Let the pan heat up until ghee is shimmering. Add in pork and sear for 1 minute. Flip and sear for another minute. Continue flipping and cooking for about a minute on each side for about 8 minutes or until center reaches 140. Remove from heat and let the pork rest on cutting board for 5 minutes. Cut away the bone and slice the pork.
5. Remove thyme, rosemary, and garlic from the pear butter mix and spoon over the chops

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