Every so often, I’ll spend a bit more time in the grocery store reading labels and finding new gems to inspire beautiful dishes for my recipe collection. Recently, I found myself lingering in the balsamic section at Whole Foods, knowing I would need a new bottle soon.
Much like olive oil, balsamic prices vary from quality to quantity. A true balsamic, aceto balsamico tradizionale, imported from Italy, is aged for over 12 years with a price tag of a few hundred dollars (eek!!). As the age decreases, so does the price. A pint of imported Italian balsamic, aged for less than 12 years, can be had for under $20.
As I hemmed and hawed, looking over all the labels and price tags, Licini’s petit bottle of Savory Fig Balsamico jumped out at me and into my cart. Truth be told, I’m a sucker for pretty bottles and classy labels. With a decent price point of less than $15, this balsamic vinegar will brighten my dishes throughout the following year and inspire many new recipes, including this one!
Cinnamon Crusted Pork Chop with Fig Balsamic Glaze
sautéed apples, asparagus & shallots. kabocha squash
GROCERY LIST **makes 5 servings
2 apples, thinly sliced and cut into large bite-sized pieces
10 asparagus spears, cut into bit-sized pieces, tough ends discarded
1 shallot, sliced
coconut oil
5 bone-in pork chops
cinnamon & salt
Balsamic, I used a beautiful Fig Balsamic
kabocha squash
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS **prep time: 5 min, cook time: squash, 45 min; pork, 15min
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut squash in half and de-seed. Cut into 1 inch slices and place in a baking dish. Spread a little coconut oil over squash and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 45 minutes.
2) Meanwhile, season pork chops with a generous amount of cinnamon and salt.
3) In a large frying pan, melt 2 TBSP coconut oil over medium heat. Sauté apples, asparagus and shallots 3-5 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
4)In the same frying pan, melt 1 TBSP coconut oil over medium-high heat. Brown pork chops on both sides for two minutes each. Pour a healthy drizzle of balsamic over chops. Add apples, shallots and asparagus to the pan and cover with a lid. Turn the heat down to low and simmer 7 minutes, or until desired doneness.
From my kitchen, to yours…. be inspired!! Enjoy!!
