Mombacho Café Pork Chops

Chef Notes

Ingredients

Steps

Mombacho Café Pork Chops

Chef notes

While in Nicaragua, my obsession with street food was in overdrive, as street vendors with smoky barbecues and juicy meats seemed to be everywhere we turned. Mombacho Café was created with pork in mind and is inspired by delicious grilled pork that became our daily staple as we walked through quaint town squares, taking in the beautiful sights and smells. The combination of garlic, cumin and coffee give this blend its unique flavor profile. Using a cast iron pan is recommended, assuming you’ll be in the kitchen, but is just as amazing if you cook your pork over coals and baste it with honey butter. Depending on the season, these pork chops go well with any type of side. This version is created with California springtime in mind, with pea puree, asparagus and crispy shallots to add to the texture and bright flavors.

Ingredients

Prep time: 10 Mins
Cook time: 20 Mins
Total time: 30 Mins

2 bone-in pork chops, 1–1.5" thick
2 tsp Mombacho Café — enough to coat the pork evenly
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
Spiced Honey Compound Butter
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp of Mombacho Café

Steps

Step 1 -

Season pork generously with kosher salt and Mombacho Café.

Step 2 -

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Step 3 -

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 4 -

For the compound butter, soften butter at room temperature or microwave for 10 seconds.

Step 5 -

Mix with vinegar, Mombacho Café and honey; set aside

Step 6 -

Heat skillet with oil to medium high heat.

Step 7 -

Pat off excess moisture and press chops into pan for even cooking. Sear for 2–3 minutes on one side.

Step 8 -

Flip and oven bake for 5 minutes.

Step 9 -

Return chops to stovetop over low heat, add compound butter and baste for 2 minutes.

Step 10 -

Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes, uncovered.

Step 11 -

Serve over pea purée with asparagus; sprinkle the top with crispy shallots.

Step 12 -

Arrange asparagus around plate.

Step 13 -

Top with Crispy Shallots

Things to remember

Seasoning chops the day before ensures the salt is absorbed into the center of the chop rather than just the outside
The spices will not be absorbed into the center of the meat, but will penetrate the outer layer which will not only give the chop more flavor, but will keep the spices from burning when you sear
Patting off the excess moisture helps to caramelize the surface of the pork
Be careful not to overheat the pan, as this will burn the spices
Resting the meat allows the protein fibers to relax and retain the succulent juices