Manchego-Stuffed Pork Chops with Roasted Red Pepper-Pepita Sauce February 22, 2010
Posted by elly in pork.trackback
For such a long title, this dish has a very short list of ingredients and is ridiculously simple to make. It basically came about from random ingredients I had around and wanted to use up. I was initially going to make a red pepper pesto, but decided to just add the cheese to the chops instead and skip out on the herbs altogether, since I didn’t have any fresh herbs around that day. All of the flavors were very complementary, and we really enjoyed this meal! I served the pork chops with some triple corn cakes and some sauteed garlicky kale.
Manchego-Stuffed Pork Chops with Roasted Red Pepper-Pepita Sauce
Serves 2
Printer Friendly Recipe
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 pork chops (I used bone-in)
thinly sliced manchego cheese
2 Tbsp. pepitas
1/2 cup sliced roasted red peppers
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 350.
Using a paring or utility knife, slice pockets into your pork chops, or nearly butterfly them. Stuff the chops with thin slices of manchego (about 1/2 oz. for each chop). Season the pork chops with kosher salt and fresh pepper.
Heat a large, heavy bottomed skillet or saute pan over medium heat and then add 2 tsp. of the oil. Once hot, add the pork chops and brown on each side, about 1-2 minutes (don’t cook them through). Move the pan to the oven and allow the pork chops to finish cooking (8-15 minutes, depending on thickness and whether chops are boned).
Meanwhile, make the roasted red pepper sauce. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the pepitas. Toss a couple of times and let them heat until fragrant and they start to turn golden brown. Combine the pepitas, roasted red peppers, vinegar, remaining 1 tsp. olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a mini food processor and process until smooth. Serve the red pepper sauce over the pork chops.
Manchego is a great cheese and I love roasted peppers and pork!
Love the combination of manchego and pork chops.
hmmm elly you belong in california. i was just in greece and wondering if they sold manchego in the grocery stores (you know, bc of the whole eu thing) and there was not one spanish cheese. i asked my greek friends and they told me i had things confused and that manchego is really mexican cheese. hmpf!
I’m lovin all the ingredients in this dish. Manchego is divine..I
‘d never thought to pair it with pork…beautiful Elly!
I would have licked the plate!
The chops are delicious with their red pepper sauce and the triple corn cakes to die for Elly. I know we always say we are going to give a recipe a try…but this is a definite!
Wow, this sounds like a flavor explosion! Will absolutely add it to my “to-make” list!
What a great supper! The cheese and sauce seem like a great combo. And those corn cakes look fantastic, too!
Oh, DROOL! Manchego is my absolute favorite cheese!! These look awesome!!
This looks awesome and you know my love affair with pork, don’t you!!!
I’m salivating! It looks marvelous! Opa!
Elly, sauce with pepita, sounds delicious…actually I have a bag of pepita from Trader Joes…it sounds a plan :-)
Oooh, look at that cheese oozing out of the pork chop … mmmmm! Drooling …
The red pepper sauce sounds so tasty with the pepitas in it! I bet it goes well with any type of protein.
This looks like a wonderful dinner! I’ll have to try it soon.
Wow, everything sounds delicious from the pork chops, the red pepper sauce and the pancakes. Great dish.
Hi Elly! I tagged you in my blog today :-) http://toteslife.blogspot.com/2010/02/wednesday-pick-me-up.html
That red pepper sauce and Manchego combo makes me almost forget there’s a pork chop underneath to be eaten. Have no fear, I’ll lick the plate clean.
[...] but there aren’t many out there. Hence, I was delighted when my little sister forwarded me this recipe from elly says opa. The sauce is unique - nutty, fresh, and with a smooth roasted pepper [...]
Hi! I tried your recipe and blogged about it – I LOVE MANCHEGO! The dish turned out great. Thanks for posting it.
http://littlemissfundc.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/recipe-manchego-stuffed-pork-chop-wroasted-red-pepper-pepita-sauce/
So glad you liked the dish!
[...] Manchego-stuffed pork chops with roasted red-pepper pepita sauce (recipe can be found here). [...]
I made this last night and it was incredible. So easy too for something that sounds complex and tastes so indulgent! Thanks for this awesome recipe, Elly :)
So glad you liked it, Elina! Also, so glad you commented – now I have a new blog to check out :)