Thanksgiving Recipes | Grilled Pork Chops with Cranberry Relish, Pecan Vinaigrette and Roasted pumpkin

Recipe by | Chefs David Garrido and Mario Medina “Dine restaurant and bar”

David Garrido is one of Austin’s most well known and respected chefs, so when we told him about our Friendsgiving party, he chef Mario Medina decided to prepare something special.  Their creation – succulent pork chops with a sweet cranberry relish, coupled with a pecan vinaigrette and roasted pumpkin. Each bite of the moist and tender pork chops was bursting with so much flavor it might easily become one of your favorite dishes of the party. Everyone knows cranberry sauce goes with Turkey, but the cranberry relish was a beautiful and colorful addition to dish, leaving lasting impression of momentary pleasure making it a perfect selection for late autumn feast like thanksgiving.

Grilled Pork Chop | yield: 4 servings

4 ea     Pork chops 12 oz ea

Salt

Pepper

Season Pork chops and grill medium well or to desire temperature.

Cranberry Relish | yield: 1 pint

3 c         Cranberries

2 c         Orange juice

1 ea        Orange zest

½ c       Sugar

2 ea       Star Anise

1 tbsp     Tarragon

½ tbsp. Thyme

¼ tsp    Cinnamon

¼ tsp   Crushed red pepper

 

Procedure:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot except orange zest and tarragon. At medium heat cook till cranberries are tender and it has reduce by half.

2. Discard star anise and finish with orange zest and tarragon. Season with a pinch of salt.

Photo by Ben Porter Photography

Pecan Vinaigrette | yield: 1 pint

4 c       Pecan halves, roasted

4 c       Champagne vinegar

1 ea      Shallots, saute

1 c        Olive oil

1 c        Salt

1/4 tsp             Pepper

Procedure:

Combine all ingredients except 2 cups of pecans and blend till smooth. Toast remaining pecans in the oven at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.

Roasted Pumpkin yield | 4 servings

1 quart            Pumpking, medium dice

¼ c                 Olive oil

1/4 ea              Salt

1 tsp                 Pepper

1 tbsp               maple syrup

Procedure:

Toss all ingredients and bake at 350 F, till pumpkin is tender.

Garnish dish with arugula tossed in vinaigrette and drizzle vinaigrette over pork chops.