Marinated Brined Pork Chops
Description
This recipe for pork loin chops brined in a salt-and-sugar spice marinade enhances the chops' flavor, moisture, and tenderness. Serve with applesauce.
Ingredients
•
1 cup water
•
1/2 cup salt
•
1/2 cup white sugar
•
1 tablespoon dried sage
•
1 tablespoon garlic powder
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10 cups cold water
•
2 1/2 pounds pork loin chops
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2 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed, divided
Directions
1
Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a large saucepan; add salt, sugar, sage, and garlic powder. Remove from heat; stir until mostly dissolved. Add 10 cups cold water to cool brine. Place pork chops in a resealable plastic freezer bag or other airtight container. Add brine, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Brine in the refrigerator for 6 hours.
2
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil.
3
Remove pork chops from brine; discard brine. Place chops in the prepared dish; brush lightly with remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil.
4
Bake in the preheated oven until chops are no longer pink in the centers and the juices run clear, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into centers should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).