Pineapple Tajín Pork Chops

Level: Easy

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Brine Time: 12 hours

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total: 12 hours 40 minutes

Cook Methods: Grill & Stove

Doneness Temperature: 165°F (74°C)

This New Year’s Eve, give tradition a bold twist! While pork is a classic choice for the occasion, these smoky, pineapple-glazed pork chops bring bold flavours that are anything but ordinary. Start the new year with a dish that brings the wow factor to your table and make your holiday unforgettable. To let the magic happen, start the day before with an overnight brine that infuses every bite with flavour. It’s a little extra effort for a dish that’s guaranteed to steal the show.

Ingredients:

Tajín Brine:

4 cups water

½ bottle Tajín

¼ cup salt

¼ cup brown sugar

⅛ cup fresh mint leaves 

6 cloves garlic (slightly crushed)

Pineapple Rum Sauce:

2 cups pineapple (finely diced)

¼ cup rendered pork fat (or oil if you can’t find it)

¼ cup honey

1 tbsp soy sauce

¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup white rum

1 tbsp fresh mint (finely chopped)

1 tbsp Tajín Original

2 big Porter Road pork chops

1 bottle Tajín Original

Equipment:

Large stock pot

Food-safe Cambro container / large tupperware

Stovetop/grill

MEATER Pro Duo

Grill tongs

Rubber spatula

Stainless steel bowl

Grill brush

Instructions:

1. Start by combining all your brine ingredients into the stock pot. Heat it on low-medium to let those flavours infuse while the sugar and salt dissolve. Let it cool to at least room temperature before pouring it into your Cambro container.
2. Place your pork chops into your brine, seal the container and store in the refrigerator overnight (or up to 14 hours).
3. When you’re ready to cook, remove your pork chops, pat dry and season them generously with Tajín. Insert your MEATER probe into your pork chop just past the safety line, making sure that it’s in the thickest part of the meat, avoiding any bone.  Select the pork chop option in the MEATER app and set it to 165°F (74°C). We recommend cooking it over an open fire - it’s all about the smokey flavours.
4. Begin your cook in the MEATER app and then cook your pork chops over medium-high heat. 
5. While they cook, let’s make some sauce! Cook your diced pineapple in a saucepan with your rendered pork fat over medium-high heat. Once the pineapple starts to soften and brown, drizzle in your honey and stir in the soy sauce until it’s fully combined. Add your brown sugar in and cook until you notice your sauce starts to thicken and the sugar is fully dissolved. Now for the fun part—add the rum, fresh mint, and a little more Tajín. Let it simmer and reduce until you have a thick, rich sauce that’s as delicious as it smells.
6. As your pork chop nears its final minutes of cooking, gently brush your pork chops with your sauce.
7. Once your MEATER app notifies you it’s ready, remove it from the heat and then let is rest until its ready.
8. Serve your pork chops with the sauce and enjoy the mass amounts of compliments coming your way!

Want to follow along with us? Watch the Instagram recipe video here: HERE