Best 13 Fennel Pork Chops Recipes

BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Make the brine: Put salt, sugar, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice and fennel seeds in a bowl. Whisk in 4 cups water to dissolve salt and sugar.
• Put pork chops in one layer in a glass or plastic container. Pour brine over to completely submerge chops. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably longer, up to overnight. Remove chops from brine and pat dry. Discard brine.
• Cook the chops: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Set a wide, heavy skillet over high heat and add olive oil. When oil is wavy, add chops in one layer and let brown for about 3 minutes per side.
• Remove chops from pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium-high and add sliced onion and fennel, stirring to coat with oil. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and crushed fennel seeds and turn off heat.
• Lay the chops on top of the onion-fennel mixture (alternatively, transfer all of it to a baking dish) and place pan, uncovered, in oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until the internal temperature of chops is 140 degrees.
• Remove chops and let rest for about 5 minutes. Transfer onion-fennel mixture to a platter and keep warm. Cut chops into 1/8-inch slices and add to platter. Sprinkle with parsley and garnish with fennel fronds. Serve with lemon wedges.

PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the pan and brown on both sides, about 4 minutes each side. Remove the pork from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside.
• Add the fennel, shallots, and 1/3 cup parsley to the pan and cook over medium heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the wine. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes and stir. Add the pork back into the pan, nestling the chops between the fennel and tomatoes so they are mostly submerged in the pan juices. Cook until the fennel is tender and the pork is done, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place the pork on a serving dish. To finish the sauce, add the lemon zest, remaining 1/3 cup parsley, capers, and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Spoon over the pork chops and serve immediately.

FENNEL-CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH POTATOES AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Toast fennel seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, tossing often, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Let cool.
• Combine fennel seeds, garlic, paprika, and 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl. Season pork with salt and pepper and place in a resealable plastic bag. Add spice mixture; seal bag and turn to coat. Let sit at least 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat. Cook pork chops until golden brown on 1 side, about 4 minutes; turn. Add potatoes and shallots to skillet; season with salt and pepper and toss to coat in pan drippings. Cook, tossing potatoes and shallots occasionally, until pork is golden brown on second side, about 4 minutes.
• Transfer to oven and roast until potatoes are tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of chops registers 135°F, 10-15 minutes. (If potatoes need more time, transfer chops to a plate and continue to roast potatoes until tender; transfer chops back to skillet when potatoes are done.) Remove skillet from oven and mix in parsley and vinegar. Let pork chops rest 5 minutes in skillet.
• Transfer chops to a cutting board; cut meat from bones and slice against the grain. Serve with potatoes, shallots, and any pan juices.
• DO AHEAD: Pork chops can be marinated 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.

FENNEL PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Sprinkle garlic salt on both sides of the pork chops. The garlic salt should pretty well cover the chops. Don't be skimpy, but at the same time, don't put on too much.
• Pour a little olive oil or other cooking oil into a skillet. Put the pork chops in the frying pan and sprinkle fennel seeds on top of the pork chops: 10 to 15 fennel seeds per pork chop will probably do. Let the underside of the pork chop brown then turn over. Once both sides are browned, flip again.
• Pour the wine into frying pan; cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes and flip the pork chops over. Cover them again and let them simmer for another 10 minutes. Make sure the wine doesn't completely evaporate or the pork chops will burn. You may have to add a little more wine or water to the pan.

FENNEL-RUBBED PORK CHOPS WITH APPLE, KALE, AND SWEET POTATO

Steps:

• Place fennel seeds and peppercorns in a small zip-top plastic bag. Seal bag and pound spices using a mallet or rolling pin until coarsely ground, or pulse them briefly in a spice or coffee grinder. Sprinkle mixture and 1/4 teaspoon salt on both sides of chops.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add sweet potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until fork-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt, then transfer to a plate.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add chops and reduce heat to medium; cook, turning once, about 4 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest parts registers 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Transfer chops to a plate and tent with foil.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the onion to the skillet; cook until onion softens, about 2 minutes. Add apple; cook 1 minute more. Add broth, stirring to scrape up browned bits, then stir in mustard and sweet potatoes. Increase heat to medium-high; simmer until apple is slightly softened and liquid has slightly reduced, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add kale and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender, about 1 minute. Add any accumulated juices from the plate with pork. Serve chops with vegetable mixture.

BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL POLLEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2 quarts water with the salt, sugar, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, red pepper, bay leaves, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. (The amount of salt and sugar you use depends on your personal taste.) Submerge the pork chops in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days (if you don't have 2 days, at least brine the chops overnight). Remove the chops from the brine, discard the brine, and cook these bad boys!
• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• Roll the fat edge of each pork chop in the fennel pollen.
• Place the chops on the grill over medium-high heat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Rotate the chops 90 degrees to create beautiful crosshatched grill marks; continue to cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the chops over and repeat this process on the second side. If the chops start to burn, move them to a cooler part of the grill. Stand the chops up and grill the fat edge-you want to get it nice and crispy and release the lovely aroma of the fennel pollen. Remove the chops from the grill and let them rest in a warm place for 8 to 10 minutes before serving. The meat should be pink in the middle and very juicy.
• ANNE ALERT!
• This is a plan-ahead recipe! The brine takes a couple of days, but it's really worth the effort.

FENNEL-BRINED PORK CHOPS WITH QUINCE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• For the brine: Bring all the ingredients to a simmer in a saucepan. Transfer to a bowl and chill the brine quickly by placing the bowl in an ice bath. Put the chops in a nonreactive container just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Add the chilled brine-it should cover the chops-then cover the container and refrigerate overnight. Remove the chops from the brine, pat dry, and bring to room temperature before roasting.
• For the chutney: In a saucepan, combine the wine, sugar, vinegar, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the quince, stir to moisten, and return to a simmer. Adjust the heat to maintain a brisk simmer and cook until the quince is tender but not mushy, about 12 minutes. Let cool to room temperature. Remove the cinnamon stick.
• Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or other ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add the vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add the chops. Cook until nicely browned in spots, 3 to 4 minutes, then turn the chops with tongs, reduce the heat slightly, and sear on the second side, about 2 minutes. Place the skillet in the oven. Roast until the chops register 135°F on an instant-read thermometer, 8 to 10 minutes longer. (Insert the thermometer horizontally to get an accurate reading.) Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle.
• To serve, transfer the chops to individual dinner plates or a serving platter. Spoon some of the chutney over them, or pass the chutney separately. Serve immediately.
• Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve or another barrel-fermented Chardonnay.

PORK CHOPS SMOTHERED WITH FENNEL AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat chops dry and add to skillet. Cook 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until deep golden brown. Pour off fat.
• Remove skillet from heat (leave pork chops in skillet) and add garlic. Cook 1 minute in the hot skillet.
• Return skillet to heat and add 1 cup broth, the wine and fennel, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered 5 minutes.
• Remove chops to a pie plate or other ovenproof dish and cover lightly with foil (set skillet aside). Place chops in the oven and cook 10 to 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 160 degrees when placed near the bone.
• Meanwhile, simmer the sauce in the skillet 5 minutes or until reduced slightly.
• In a small cup or bowl mix remaining 1/4 cup broth (it should be cold or room temperature) with the cornstarch. Add this mixture to the sauce and boil 1 minute, or until lightly thickened. Taste, adding salt and pepper, if desired. Serve chops "smothered" with sauce.

GRILLED FENNEL-RUBBED TRIPLE-CUT PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off). Combine kosher salt, pepper, and ground fennel in a small bowl. Rub each pork chop all over with 2 tablespoons oil, followed by spice mixture, patting to adhere. (Save any extra rub to use on chicken, lamb, or more chops another time.) Grill chops over direct heat, turning often and moving to cooler side of grill as needed to control flare-ups, until deeply browned on all sides, 10-15 minutes total.
• Move chops to indirect heat, placing bone side down, and grill, turning every 20 minutes or so, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chops registers 118°F, 45-60 minutes. (Check after 30 minutes-once thermometer registers 100°F, the temperature will climb much faster.) This cooking method and target temperature yield juicy chops with still-pink flesh.
• Transfer pork chops to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes (temperature will rise about 5°). Cut loin on each chop from the bones in one piece. Slice between bones to separate and grill over direct heat, turning often, until crisped and well charred, about 5 minutes.
• Grill loins over direct heat, cut side up, just to reheat slightly, about 2 minutes. Slice loins 1/2" thick and transfer to a platter. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sea salt and fennel pollen. Serve with bones alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Pork can be rubbed with oil and spice mixture 1 day ahead; cover and chill. Pork caxn be grilled 2 hours ahead. Do not cut meat from bones; hold at room temperature. Grill over high to reheat, about 2 minutes, before finishing as directed above.

PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND CAPER SAUCE RECIPE COURTESY GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the pan and brown on both sides, about 4 minutes each side. Remove the pork from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside. Add the fennel, shallots, and 1/3 cup parsley to the pan and cook over medium heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the wine. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes and stir. Add the pork back into the pan, nestling the chops between the fennel and tomatoes so they are mostly submerged in the pan juices. Cook until the fennel is tender and the pork is done, about 12 to 15 minutes. Place the pork on a serving dish. To finish the sauce, add the lemon zest, remaining 1/3 cup parsley, capers, and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Spoon over the pork chops and serve immediately.

DRAKE'S WINTER PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL, APPLE, SAGE, ONIONS

Steps:

• Use two saucepans to sautée fennel and onions separately, so the green color of the fennel doesn't muddy the other colors. Before adding onions to second saucepan, brown the pork chops in olive oil, about 10 minutes each side in med-high heat. When they seem cooked through, remove from pan and add to juices the onions, cooking for five minutes before adding a variety of diced apples with skin on. After adding apples, continue to sautée on med heat for 15 minutes. Just before serving, combine the fennel with the apples and onions and add sage, fennel seeds and salt to taste. Add pork chops to mix, stir around a bit, then remove pork chops and serve with generous quantity of apple/fennel sautée on the side of plate.

PORK CHOPS WITH FENNEL AND CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over high heat. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Add the pork to the pan and brown on both sides, about 4 minutes each side. Remove the pork from the pan, cover loosely with foil, and set aside. Add the fennel, shallots, and 1/3 cup parsley to the pan and cook over medium heat until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the wine. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes and stir. Add the pork back into the pan, nestling the chops between the fennel and tomatoes so they are mostly submerged in the pan juices. Cook until the fennel is tender and the pork is done, about 12 to 15 minutes. Cook pork to 180 degrees. Place the pork on a serving dish. To finish the sauce, add the lemon zest, remaining 1/3 cup parsley, capers, and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Spoon over the pork chops and serve immediately.

DIJON PORK CHOPS WITH CABBAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Core and cut each cabbage into 6 wedges. In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons mustard, brown sugar, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and stock., In a large Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat; saute onion until lightly browned, 4-6 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; add apples, fennel and cabbage. Pour mustard mixture over top. Bake, covered, until cabbage is tender, 45-60 minutes., Meanwhile, mix sage and the remaining salt and pepper; rub onto both sides of pork chops. Dust with flour; shake off excess. In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Brown chops in batches, 4-6 minutes per side; remove from pan., Spread tops of pork chops with remaining mustard; place over vegetables in Dutch oven. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in pork reads 145°, 8-10 minutes.