Smothered Southern Pork Chop with Sage, Apple and Pecan SauceSmothered Southern Pork Chop with Sage, Apple and Pecan Sauce

Tara Fitzpatrick

Winner of the National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management (HFM)’s 4th Annual Culinary Competition

YIELD: 6

½ cup flour
1 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
2 cups vegetable oil
6 IBP Boneless Center-Cut Pork Chops, 6 oz. each
¼ cup sage, chopped
2 medium Red Delicious apples, peeled and sliced thin
½ cup pecans
4 cloves garlic, chopped
6 cups chicken stock
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. butter
3 cups collard greens, chopped
¼ cup red wine vinegar
3 medium sweet potatoes

1. Place flour in pan.

2. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper; mix thoroughly.

3. Heat ½ cup vegetable oil in large frying pan.

4. Dredge pork chop in seasoned flour.

5. Fry until golden brown, 4 minutes per side.

6. Remove pork chops and keep warm.

7. Add apples, sage, pecans and half the garlic to pan; sauté for 2 minutes.

8. Add 3 cups of chicken stock and balsamic vinegar; bring to a boil.

9. Reduce sauce to a simmer and add pork chops to sauce and cook for 30 minutes.

10. Remove pork chops; reduce sauce by half and add butter until thick.

For Collard Greens:

1. Add 2 Tbsps. vegetable oil to pan; add remaining garlic; cook for 1 minute.

2. Add chopped collard greens, remaining chicken broth and red wine vinegar to pan.

3. Cook until tender, 8-10 minutes.

For Sweet Potatoes:

1. Peel sweet potatoes.

2. Slice potatoes to shoestring size on mandolin.

3. Heat remaining oil to 350°F; add potatoes and cook until golden.

To assemble:

1. Place ½ cup of collard greens on center of plate; put one pork chop on top.

2. Place ½ cup sweet potato fries on top of pork; drizzle 2 oz. of sauce onto plate.

Recipe: Tony Almeida, Director of Food and Nutrition and Sam Malek, Executive Chef, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ. Photo: HFM

To read more about Sam Malek, see this month's Guest Chef.