Five years ago today I started Idiot’s Kitchen with this recipe.
It’s easily the recipe that I’ve given out the most:
Easy enough to explain it to the person sitting next to you on an airplane.
Easy enough to explain it to your friends during the break of an orchestra rehearsal.
Easy enough to explain to the person standing in front of the pork chops in your grocery store.
Yes, all those things have happened. I’m like a Pork Chops with Tomatoes & Sage evangelist.
Five years later, Pork Chops with Tomatoes & Sage is still one of my favorites so I thought we’d revisit it on this 5th anniversary.
If you do “Throw Back Thursdays” here you go…way back to August 13, 2010 – only now without my arm in the middle of every photo.
Here’s what you need:
Pork Chops, Sage, Diced Tomatoes, Flour, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper
Click here for a Pork Chops with Tomatoes & Sage shopping list
Gosh, remember back in 2010 when I could still eat wheat? Sigh…Happily this works just fine with Gluten Free flour.
Pick nice thick, bone in, center cut pork chops at least 1½ inches thick. Season them with salt & pepper and dredge them lightly with flour (not pictured).
Heat 2-3 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet and brown the chops on both sides.
When you flip the chops to the second side, toss in several leaves of fresh sage.
You have the option to leave the sage leaves whole or to chop them up. I’ve made it both ways.
You can also make this with rubbed dry sage if fresh isn’t available but please avoid sage powder as it is too strong.
When the chops have browned nicely, dump in a 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes.
I always use fire roasted tomatoes for this recipe for a little extra flavor and color.
Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer with the lid ajar for 1 hour.
Check on your chops from time to time to be sure the sauce isn’t drying out. Flip them over so both sides get a tomato-sage bath.
If you’re fond of the flavor of sage like I am, add a little extra chopped sage to the pan at the end for a flavor boost.
After an hour, these chops are almost fork tender. Serve them with a generous portion of the tomatoes & sage on top.
Originally I served these with couscous. Now I serve them with either garlic mashed potatoes (shown here) or risotto if I feel like stirring.
Five years, 440 recipes, and a few cats later, I’d like to thank YOU for sharing a love of cooking and food with me.
I appreciate the community we’ve created here, your comments, recipe suggestions, recommendations, and especially your friendship.
Cheers to you!
– C
Here’s the recipe: Adapted from Marcella Hazan
Pork Chops with Tomatoes & Sage
And if you’re feeling nostalgic or need more detailed info, here’s the original post.
And speaking of nostalgic, THIS has been in my head the whole time I’ve been writing this post.
Gotta love Maxine!
7 Responses
Claudia,
Congratulations on five years of Idiot’s Kitchen! There are many recipes I’ve come to love–Fusilli with Sausage, Peas and Cream, and Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits, in particular!–and I’m also glad to have helped contribute to the site’s success by sharing some of my favorite recipes with you.
I know what a great baker you are and I miss the wonderful baked goods you used to post.
To another five years of deliciousness!
Thanks Wes! And thanks for sharing your recipes, being my pyrex bowl collection enabler, and supplier of blackberry cordial. That is something I definitely need to make for IK!!! Hopefully baked goods will be coming back. Even if I can’t eat them, Young People’s Concert season is approaching so the orchestra will need treats. 🙂
Just watched Maxine; watching a singer among the waves with a boat and fish passing by makes me nostalgic for Theatre Ex Machina’s “Follies of 1789” with Maria J. 25 years ago.
I’m glad you could appreciate the trip 70s nature of Maxine’s fine video. No wonder we’re friends!
Well Claudia, Congratulations!!! You certainly cook up good things. With heart and soul! And humorous funny remarks… Keep it going. I know all of your recipes. And made a few myself. But sure miss the good rolls you used to make! Especially since I do not like to bake at all. All this measuring makes me nervous.
Thanks, Liz. I’m hoping to get back to more baking. I miss those rolls too!!!
Larry has talked about these pork chops A LOT and now I know why. What a great dish and so easy to make! I served them with left over mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving…Yum!!