Lunch: Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples and Arugula

Ingredients

2 pork chops
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped shallots
1 medium green apple, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 cup brandy
1 cup apple juice (ideally fresh)
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups arugula, washed and dried

Instructions

Flavor Secrets: To prepare a brine, combine 1 cup water, 1/4 cup kosher salt, and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil for 1 minute to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from the heat and cool. Stir in 3 cups cold water. Submerge the meat in the brine for at least 4 hours.
1. For maximum juiciness, brine the pork chops for 4 hours if you can (see Flavor Secrets, above). Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
2. In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Heat the oil until it just starts to haze. Add the pork chops and saute until golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Closely monitor the heat so the pork chops get a deep golden brown but so the bits at the bottom of the pan don't burn-they are the flavor foundation for your sauce. Remove the pork chops and set aside.
3. Add the shallots, apples, and garlic to the same pan. Cook for 2 minutes or until golden. Use tongs to scrape the bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the brandy and let boil, reducing the liquid by half. Add the apple juice and rosemary, and boil for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock and boil (reduce) until you have a nice saucy consistency. Add the butter. Turn off the heat and stir just until the butter is melted. Stir in the arugula.
4. Place each pork chop on a plate. Pour the sauce with the arugula over the top.

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