How to Cook Sweet Pickled Cherries with Grilled pork Chop

  • Prep time
  • Cook time
  • Difficulty easy
  • Serves 2
grilled pork chop with sweet pickled cherries

Ingredients

  • for the pork
  • 2 free range pork chops
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1 bulb fennel finely sliced
  • 1 Unwaxed lemon juiced
  • Drizzle cold pressed virgin olive oil
  • for the cherries
  • 100ml balsamic vinegar
  • 80g honey
  • 1 tsp. fennel seeds
  • 200g cherries pitted
  • 2 tbls. Cherry molasses (or any other molasses will work / optional)
  • Pinch sea salt & cracked black pepper

Method for the Pork Chop

grilled pork chop with sweet pickled cherries

  1. Pre heat a griddle, heavy based frying pan or Bbq for direct grilling.
  2. Season the chops liberally with sea salt just prior to cooking then place the chops on the fat to render before searing on the flat sides cooking over high heat turning a couple of times.
  3. Once well coloured cook 4 to 5 minutes each side, when pressing the chops with your thumb it should be slightly firm to touch & a core temperature of 60°C before resting.
  4. Remove from heat & finish by adding a squeeze of lemon then leave to rest in a warm place for half the cooking time before serving.

Method for the cherries

sweet pickled cherries

  1. Simmer all ingredients except the cherries together covered for 5 minutes over a gentle heat until everything is rich & glossy.
  2. Fold through the cherries to fully coat & gently simmer for a few moments.
  3. carefully remove the cherries using a slotted spoon onto a clean flat tray.
  4. Reduce the syrup until rich & sticky then pour back over the cherries.
  5. Store in a sealed jar for up to 1 month.

To serve

  • Serve the chops with a scattering of the pickled cherries & the shaved fennel tossed in a little lemon juice & olive oil.
  • Drink with a cool glass of a young & fresh Beaujolais Nouveau.

grilled pork chop with sweet pickled cherries