Fig-Glazed Double-Cut Pork Chops Stuffed with Andouille Rice
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This is a classic Louisiana dish that is found throughout Acadiana. It's impressive and easy when you follow this recipe.
Recipe by:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 4 (1 ¾-inch-thick) bone-in pork chops
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 cups beer
  • 1 cup table salt
  • 2 tablespoons bacon grease, divided
  • 1 cup diced yellow onions
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups cooked long-grain Louisiana white rice, such as Supreme
  • 1 ½ cups chopped andouille sausage
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Acadiana Table Cajun Seasoning Blend, see recipe here
  • Dash of hot sauce
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ cup green onion tops
  • 1 cup chicken stock, if needed
  • 1 cup fig preserves with whole figs
  • Thyme sprigs for garnish
Instructions
  1. Rinse the pork chops and trim any excess fat. In a lidded container, add the cider, beer, and salt. Stir to incorporate. Add the pork chops, seal the container and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of bacon grease. Add the onions, celery, and bell pepper and sauté until the onions turn translucent. Add the garlic and thyme along with the diced tomatoes. Stir to combine and add the rice and sausage to the vegetable mixture. Season with cayenne, white pepper, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Add the diced green onion tops and stir to combine. Gradually, add the chicken stock as needed until the mixture comes together into a moist stuffing consistency. (Note: The rice mixture should be moist but hold its shape like a good stuffing.)
  4. Remove the pork chops from the brining liquid and pat dry. In a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining bacon grease. Once the grease is smoking, add the pork chop and quickly brown on both sides. Remove and let cool.
  5. With a sharp knife, cut a pocket in the center of each pork chop slicing all the way to the bone. Stand the chops bone-side down and open the pocket with your fingers. Sprinkle the pork chops lightly with salt and pepper. Spoon in the andouille rice stuffing to fill the pocket and place on a foil-lined baking tray. Repeat with all chops and place any remaining rice stuffing on the tray with the chops.
  6. Brush the sides and top edges of the pork chops with fig preserves.
  7. Place the baking tray into the oven and bake until the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 145ºF, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  8. For serving, place each pork chop on a serving plate along with any excess stuffing mixture and garnish with a few whole figs and a sprig of thyme. Serve with a side vegetable and hot French bread.
Notes
Pass on the pre-wrapped pork chops and ask your butcher to custom cut 1 ¾- inch-thick, bone-in pork chops. I like the smoke and spice of a quality andouille in this recipe, but most any smoked sausage will work. Once you learn this technique, get creative with different stuffing variations (crawfish, cornbread, boudin, etc.) Times do not include brining.
Recipe by Acadiana Table at https://acadianatable.com/2022/04/25/stuffed-pork-chop/