A cherry on top isn’t just for sundaes; we’re using the fruit to dress savory pork chops in this recipe. You’ll be making a pan sauce that features both dried cherries and cherry jam for double the fruity fun. Make sure to get a little of it on the couscous salad—that sweetness is the perfect complement to the tartness of the lemon and tomatoes that get mixed in.
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
1 unit
Shallot
1 unit
Lemon
4 ounce
Grape Tomatoes
2 unit
Scallions
¼ ounce
Parsley
1 ounce
Dried Cherries
½ cup
Couscous
(Contains Wheat)
12 ounce
Pork Chops
1 unit
Chicken Stock Concentrate
1 ounce
Cherry Jam
1 teaspoon
Vegetable Oil
Salt
Pepper
Wash and dry all produce. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small pot. Halve, peel, and mince shallot. Zest and halve lemon. Halve tomatoes. Trim, then thinly slice scallions, keeping greens and whites separate. Finely chop parsley.
Place dried cherries in a small bowl. Pour over just enough boiling water to cover cherries (you’ll need to save 1 cup boiling water for the couscous). Set aside.
Put couscous in a medium bowl. Stir in scallion whites, half the shallot, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in 1 cup boiling water and cover. Set aside.
Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Pat pork dry with a paper towel. Season all over with salt and pepper. Add to pan and cook to desired doneness, 3-6 minutes per side. Remove from pan and set aside to rest a few minutes.
Reduce heat under pan to medium and add remaining shallot. Cook until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in stock concentrate, jam, and half the cherries along with all of their steeping water. Give everything a stir to combine, then bring to a simmer and let bubble until reduced by about half. (TIP: The sauce is ready when it sticks to the back of a spoon.) Season with salt and pepper.
Fluff couscous with a fork, then toss in tomatoes, scallion greens, remaining cherries, lemon zest, and a squeeze or two of lemon juice. (TIP: For extra flavor, add 1 TBSP butter before tossing.) Season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice (to taste). Divide between plates and top with pork. Drizzle with pan sauce and garnish with parsley.