This warm, homey dinner is
actually fast food—the good kind. Lean, pork sirloin chops sear quickly, in less
than 10 minutes for a lightly charred outside and tender inside. And creamy
polenta is a tasty alternative to mashed potatoes. Once the liquid comes to a
boil, the dish is ready, again, in less than 10 minutes.
I usually use all chicken
broth to make polenta, but for this recipe I used skim milk with a little broth to give
the dish an even creamier consistency. A little chopped sage and Parmesan
cheese provide a flavorful finish.
Note: If you don’t use Parmigiano-Reggiano, try another Parmesan or
hard Italian cheese that you can grate yourself. No pre-grated stuff in a can,
please!
Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb pork sirloin chops,
about 3/4-inch thick
- 1/4 tsp chile powder
- sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups nonfat milk
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken
broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2/3 cup quick-cooking polenta
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
cheese
- 2 tsp finely chopped fresh sage,
plus more for garnish
- broiled or steamed asparagus,
for serving (optional)
|
Pork Sirloin Chops |
|
Polenta Cornmeal |
|
Grated Parmesan |
Preparation
- Heat a cast-iron skillet over
medium-high heat and brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season the pork with
chile powder, salt, and pepper and sear until browned and just cooked through, 4-5
minutes per side.
- Transfer to a cutting board
and let rest 5 minutes. Cut the pork across the grain into thin slices.
|
Seasoned Pork |
|
Pork Beginning to Sear |
|
Seared Pork |
- Meanwhile, bring the milk and
broth to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually pour in the
polenta, stirring constantly to prevent clumps. Reduce the heat to low and
cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, 6-7 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir
in the cheese and 2 teaspoons of chopped sage. Season with salt and pepper.
Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with more sage.
|
Milk Mixture Beginning to Simmer |
|
Polenta Added |
|
Cooked Polenta |
|
Cheese and Sage Added |
Serve the pork and polenta with asparagus on the
side, if desired.
|
Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Parmesan Polenta |
This sounds delicious and is a wonderful combination. I love polenta and quick and easy dinners. Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!
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