Honey Glazed Pork Chop w/ Blue Corn Polenta

Pork and grits are a classic southern staple, but there are small tweaks you can make to your dish to elevate it to the next level. When thinking of new dishes, I like to take things I know and love and think of new creative ways to make food interesting. That’s where this blue corn polenta and delicious tomato relish come into play.

 
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Tomato Relish

Ingredients:

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

  • ½ red onion, diced small

  • 6 - 8 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, diced small

  • 1 cup yellow sweet corn, cooked

  • 2 oz pancetta, diced small

  • 1 TBSP Grade A honey

  • lemon juice

  • Crush red pepper flakes

  • Fresh basil

  • Fresh oregano

Instructions:

  1. In a cold pan, add diced pancetta and slowly render out until crispy. Drain excess fat on a paper towel

  2. In a mixing bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, red onion, sweet corn, sun-dried tomatoes, and crispy pancetta

  3. Pour in a small amount of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, honey, a splash of lemon juice, and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes as well as some freshly chopped basil and oregano for some freshness and color

  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Blue Corn Polenta

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups blue cornmeal (I highly recommend Bow & Arrow Brand cornmeal)

  • 3 cups water

  • 3 cups milk

  • ½ yellow onion, diced small

  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced

  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

  • ¼ lb butter

Instructions:

  1. The night before, soak the two cups of cornmeal in the three cups of water

  2. Add butter to a small pot and turn up to low-medium heat

  3. Once butter is melted, add yellow onions and garlic and cook until translucent, being careful not to get any color on onions or garlic

  4. Once onions and garlic are cooked through, add cornmeal, water, and milk and whisk together

  5. Whisk often and cook over low heat until it thickens to the consistency of thick mashed potatoes.

  6. Season with salt and pepper to taste

Honey Glaze

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup Grade A honey

  • 2 TBSP maple syrup

  • 1 tsp red chili flakes

  • 1 tsp chopped oregano

  • 1 tsp thyme

Instructions:

  • Combine all ingredients in a small bowl

  • After pan searing (or grilling) pork chop, brush with the glaze immediately before serving

  • Enjoy!

Luis Fayad