Seared Pork Chop with Fennel Pollen, Apple Cider Sauce, Roasted Delicata Squash, Tuscan Kale, Pancetta, Fennel and Butternut Squash

Recipe courtesy of Anne Burrell

Show: Worst Cooks in America

Episode: Best of the Worst: No Cuts, No Glory

Seared Pork Chop with Fennel Pollen, Apple Cider Sauce, Roasted Delicata Squash, Tuscan Kale, Pancetta, Fennel and Butternut Squash

Name: Seared Pork Chop with Fennel Pollen, Apple Cider Sauce, Roasted Delicata Squash, Tuscan Kale, Pancetta, Fennel and Butternut Squash
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H30M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT5H0M0.000S
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup kosher salt, plus more as needed; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup fennel seeds; 1 bulb garlic, halved; 1 bulb fennel, tops removed but reserved, bulb cored and thinly sliced; 1 onion, diced; 4 pork rib chops, frenched; 1 delicata squash, sliced into rounds and seeds removed; 1/2 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and diced; Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling; 1 1/2 cups apple cider; 3 cups chicken stock, or more as needed; 2 tablespoons fennel pollen, plus more for garnish; 1 shallot, diced; 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced; 1/4 cup golden raisins; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 8 ounces pancetta, diced; Pinch crushed red pepper flakes; 1 large bunch Tuscan kale, stems removed and thinly sliced; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1/4 cup pepitas, toasted

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Level: Intermediate

Total: 5 hr (includes brining time)
Active: 1 hr 30 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Intermediate

Total: 5 hr (includes brining time)
Active: 1 hr 30 min

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup kosher salt, plus more as needed

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup fennel seeds

1 bulb garlic, halved

1 bulb fennel, tops removed but reserved, bulb cored and thinly sliced

1 onion, diced

4 pork rib chops, frenched

1 delicata squash, sliced into rounds and seeds removed

1/2 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed and diced

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

1 1/2 cups apple cider

3 cups chicken stock, or more as needed

2 tablespoons fennel pollen, plus more for garnish

1 shallot, diced

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced

1/4 cup golden raisins

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

8 ounces pancetta, diced

Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

1 large bunch Tuscan kale, stems removed and thinly sliced

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup pepitas, toasted

Directions

Fill a large container with water. Add the salt, sugar, fennel seeds, garlic, fennel tops and onion. Add the pork chops and allow to sit in the brine for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Arrange the delicata rounds and butternut chunks on separate sheet trays. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
Heat the apple cider in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook to reduce for 20 minutes. Add 2 cups chicken stock and continue to reduce for 20 minutes.
Preheat a large cast-iron pan with some olive oil on medium-high heat. Remove the pork from the brine and pat dry. Sprinkle with the fennel pollen and salt. Place in the pan and sear until golden brown and it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
Coat a high-sided saute pan with olive oil. Add the shallot and some salt and sweat over medium-high heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the apples and cook until they start to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the warmed apple cider and remaining cup chicken stock and season with salt. Cook until slightly reduced, a few minutes, then add the golden raisins. Continue to reduce the sauce, adding a bit more chicken stock every so often, until the sauce is slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Finish the sauce with the butter.
To a separate saute pan, add the pancetta and turn on the heat to medium. Slowly cook the pancetta, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the pancetta is crispy. Add the crushed red pepper flakes. Add the sliced fennel and kale and season with salt. Stir to combine, then add the apple cider vinegar. Add the roasted butternut squash and gently toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
To plate: Plate two slices of roasted delicata squash. Top with the sauteed kale and butternut squash. Top with a pork chop, then another slice of delicata squash. Spoon the sauce over the top and garnish with the pepitas and fennel pollen. Repeat to make 3 more servings.