Grilled Pork Chops with Mandarin-Maple Sauce

This sweet, citrusy sauce for grilled pork chops is easy and fast to put together—and adds a delightful burst of bright flavor to the smoky, savory meat. Give it time to cook a bit to develop its deepest flavors, and the combination of mandarin oranges and maple syrup will bring that mmmmm-factor to the meal.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp finely chopped shallot
• 1/2 cup drained mandarin oranges, chopped (from an 11-oz can, in light syrup—2 tbsp syrup reserved)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 4 bone-in pork loin chops, about 1-inch thick
• olive oil, for rubbing

Drained Oranges

Chopped Shallots and Oranges

Preparation

1. Light a grill for medium-high heat with space for off-heat grilling.
2. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add the butter. When foamy, add the shallot and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the chopped oranges, reserved syrup, and maple syrup and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a light simmer and cook until slightly reduced, 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand while the chops grill. (The sauce will thicken a little more as it cools but should still be fairly thin.) 

Shallots Beginning to Cook

Sauce Beginning to Cook

Cooked Sauce

1. Rub the grate with oil.
2. Rub the pork chops lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until slightly charred and just cooked through, about 12 minutes total, turning 2 to 3 times. (Move the chops off heat as needed to prevent flare-ups.) 

Chops Beginning to Grill

Grilled Chops

Transfer to a platter and let rest 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over top and serve.

Grilled Pork Chops with Mandarin-Maple Sauce