Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Swap the protein but keep the appeal of this rustic dish
The modern-day Italian American version of cacciatore typically contains bone-in chicken pieces in a garlicky, wine-enhanced tomato sauce studded with onions, peppers and mushrooms. For a fresh revamp, we decided to use bone-in pork chops that had just enough fat to work well when braised. The bone adds flavor, and using bone-in chops honors the spirit and tradition of the dish.
Pork cacciatore
Makes: 4 servings
4 (8- to 10-ounce) bone-in pork loin chops, 3⁄4- to 1-inch thick, trimmed
2 ½ teaspoons table salt, divided
2 teaspoons pepper
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
1 onion, chopped (1 cup)
6 garlic cloves, sliced thin
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup dry white wine
1 ½ cups canned crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1. Pat chops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish. Working with 1 chop at a time, dredge in flour, shaking off excess; transfer chops to a baking sheet.
2. Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add chops and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Let excess oil drip from chops, then return chops to the baking sheet.
3. Add mushrooms, pepper, onion, garlic, rosemary sprigs, pepper flakes and remaining ½ teaspoon salt to the oil left in the skillet. Cook until vegetables are just softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in wine and cook until nearly evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Nestle chops into sauce and cook until chops register 140 degrees, about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
6. Transfer chops to a platter. Discard rosemary sprigs, then spoon sauce over chops. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes: White mushrooms can be substituted for the cremini. One 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes will yield more than enough for this recipe.