Coffee and Molasses Brined Pork Chops

By sheilaolim

Coffee adds a background flavor that helps bring out the sweet yet bitter undertone of the molasses. This brine is also excellent with chicken thighs and drumsticks, and pork or beef ribs. Use any type of hardwood chips if hickory is not available

Nutritional Information
Amount per serving

Calories: 254 Calories from fat: 31% Fat: 8.7g Saturated fat: 3g Monounsaturated fat: 3.9g Polyunsaturated fat: 0.9g Protein: 37.7g Carbohydrate: 3.8g Fiber: 3.1g Cholesterol: 107mg Iron: 1.8mg Sodium: 584mg Calcium: 50mg

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups chilled strong brewed coffee
• 1/4 cup kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
• 1 cup hickory wood chips
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 8 teaspoons Pepper-Garlic Spice Rub
• Cooking spray

Details

Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Pour salt mixture into a large zip-top plastic bag. Add ice and pork; seal. Refrigerate for 3 hours, turning the bag occasionally.

Soak wood chips in water 1 hour. Drain well.

Prepare grill for indirect grilling, heating one side to medium-high and leaving one side with no heat.

Place wood chips on hot coals. Remove pork from bag; discard brine. Pat pork dry with paper towels. Sprinkle 1/8 teaspoon salt over pork. Rub 8 teaspoons Pepper-Garlic Spice Rub evenly over both sides of pork. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat; grill 2 minutes on each side. Place pork on unheated side of grill; grill 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.