Roasted Pork Chops with Bacon Vinaigrette

By rperlowitz

Ingredients

• Vinaigrette
• 6 bacon slices
• 1 2/3 cup low salt chicken broth
• 1 T. oil
• 1 large shallot finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped smoked ham or bacon
• 3 T. packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• Pork Chops
• 6 3/4 to 1 inch pork chops
• 1 T. oil
• 4 large thyme sprigs
• 1/4 cup finely chopped serrano ham or bacon
• 1 1/2 T. butter melted
• salt

Preparation

Step 1

*Vinaigrette*
_cook_ bacon in large skillet over medium heat until fat is rendered (@ 6 min). Reserve bacon for another use). Use 1/3 cup bacon fat (add oil if needed)
_boil_ broth in heavy small saucepan until reduced to 1 cup. _Add_ shallot - saute until tender, add chopped ham (bacon), brown sugar and vinegar. Increase heat and cook until syrupy (@ 2 min) add to bacon mixture - cook down until slightly reduces (3 min)

*Pork Chops*
preheat oven to 375. Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. Saute until golden brown - transfer all chops to a roasting pan in single layer, add thyme sprigs and bake until they are 150 F, about 8 minutes.

Put warm vinaigrette on top of chops and serve.