Chef John's Mini Christmas Hams
Description
To make these individual cured hams, or--as Chef John calls them, "ham-lets"--brine boneless pork loin chops two days before you're ready to serve them.
Ingredients
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Brine:
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1 1/2 cups boiling water
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3/4 cup packed brown sugar
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1/2 cup kosher salt
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1 tablespoon kosher salt
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1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
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1 teaspoon ground allspice
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1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
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1 bay leaf
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2 cups chopped celery
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1/2 yellow onion, chopped
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3 cloves garlic, peeled
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2 cups water
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1 quart water, or as needed
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4 (1 1/2 inches thick) boneless center-cut pork loin chops
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Glaze:
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1/4 cup packed brown sugar
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2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
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1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
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1 tablespoon vegetable oil
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12 whole cloves
Directions
1
Combine 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt, black pepper, allspice, cloves, and bay leaf together in a large container; stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved. (See Cook's Note to substitute table salt.)
2
Place celery, onion, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups cold water and puree until smooth. Pour celery mixture into kosher salt mixture and stir to combine. Add 1 quart of water, or more as needed, to make a total of 2 quarts of brine. Place pork chops in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days.
3
Combine 1/4 cup brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl and set glaze aside.
4
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
5
Remove pork chops from brine and pat dry; discard used brine. Cut shallow slits along the sides of each pork chop, about 1/4 inch deep. Cut a crisscross pattern in the top of each pork chop, creating small 1-inch triangles.
6
Heat oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Cook chops in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Brush the crisscrossed top of each pork chop with about 1 tablespoon of glaze. Insert 3 whole cloves in the top of each pork chop.
7
Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and roast pork chops until golden brown and slightly pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Remove pork chops to a plate and discard cloves.
8
Using a small butane hand torch, brown the tops of the pork chops by making short passes over the tops with the flame not quite touching.