Recipes

GRILLED LONG-BONE PORK CHOPS WITH ONION JAM

Pork chops go upscale in this recipe hot off the set at Primal Grill
III. Note: you can also make it with veal chops.

Method: Direct grilling
Advance preparation: 1 hour to make the onion jam.
Serves 4.

For the onions:

1 pound small torpedo onions, cipollinis, pearl onions, or shallots
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups dry red wine
1 cup balsamic vinegar, or to taste
1 cup honey, or to taste
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons, 1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4 gorgeous pork chops, preferably long-bone, Heritage-breed (each 1 to
1-1/4 inches thick and 10 to 12 ounces)
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley

1. Set up your grill for direct grilling and preheat to high.

2. Peel the onions, leaving most of the stem end intact. (The helps
hold the onion together during cooking.) If you're feeling ambitious,
toss the onions with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill the onions
until well browned on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes per side. For ease in
turning, you may wish to thread the onions on bamboo skewers before
grilling. You can grill the onions at a previous grill session. This
step is optional, but it will give the sauce a rich smoke flavor.

3. Place the onions (grilled or raw if you've omitted the previous
step) in a large deep saucepan and add the wine, vinegar, honey, and 3
tablespoons butter. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil the sauce
until the onions are tender and the wine, vinegar, and honey have
cooked down to a syrupy glaze, 6 to 10 minutes. If the onions become
soft before the sauce has thickened, transfer them to a plate with a
slotted spoon, and continue boiling the sauce until thick and syrupy,
then add them back. Correct the seasoning, adding salt to taste and
vinegar or honey as needed. The onions should be a little sweet, a
little sour, and very flavorful. The onions can be cooked several
hours—or even a day ahead—and reheated just before serving.
Immediately before serving, stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
You should wind up with about 1-1/4 cups.

4. Set up your grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. Have one
grill zone on medium. Brush and oil the grill grate.

5. Generously season the chops on both sides with salt and pepper.

6. Arrange the chops on the grill grate running on the diagonal to the
bars of the grate. Grill until nicely browned on the outside and
cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on the desired
degree of doneness. Give each chop a quarter turn half way through on
each side to lay on a crosshatch of grill marks. If the chops brown
too much on the hot zone, move them to the medium zone.

7. Transfer the chops to a platter or plates. Reheat the onion
mixture. Spoon it over the chops and sprinkle with the parsley if
using. Serve at once.

CARIBBEAN RIB RUB

Source: Steven Raichlen
Makes about 1 cup; can be multiplied as desired

1/2 cup coarse salt (kosher or sea)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons ground allspice
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to mix, breaking up
any lumps. Excellent when rubbed on pork ribs or even chicken before
grilling or smoking.