Ingredients

  • 1 cup Green Apple Chutney, recipe follows or use good-quality storebought
  • 4 (16 ounce) double cut bone in pork chops
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Kiawe wood chips, see note
  • 2 mirlitons, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch thick lengthwise slices
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
  • 4 cups apple cider
  • Peels and cores from 6 Granny Smith apples ? reserved from making the Chutney
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • *Kiawe (pronounced kee ah vay) wood is often used in Hawaii in grilling both meat and seafood. The flavor of the smoke is strong, somewhat akin to mesquite.
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 3 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped (reserve peels and cores from 6 apples for apple-soy glaze)
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh ginger
  • 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 2/3 cup currants
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Method

  • Make the Green Apple Chutney and allow to cool.
  • Reserve the peels and cores from the Granny Smith apples to make the apple-soy glaze.
  • Season each pork chop with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of the Essence.
  • Place the kiawe wood chips in the bottom of a stovetop smoker and position the smoking rack on top of the chips.
  • Close the smoker and set over medium-high heat until smoke begins to appear.
  • Working quickly, open the lid of the smoker and position the pork chops on top of the smoking rack.
  • Close the top of the smoker and continue smoking the pork chops over medium high heat for 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, turn off the heat and allow the pork chops to smoke in the stovetop smoker, undisturbed, for 20 minutes.
  • Prepare a grill.
  • While the pork chops are smoking, grill or saute the merliton slices.
  • Combine the merliton slices with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon of pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of Essence and toss to combine.
  • Grill over high heat for about 3 minutes on each side, or until slightly charred and tender.
  • Transfer to a serving platter, cover with foil and set aside.
  • Make the soy-apple glaze by combining the apple cider and the reserved apple peels and cores to a large saucepan and cooking until reduced to about 1/2 cup, and sauce is thick and syrupy, 30 to 40 minutes.
  • Strain the syrup over a fine meshed sieve and discard the apple peels and cores.
  • Add the soy sauce to the syrup and stir to combine.
  • Transfer to a small bowl and set aside to cool.
  • When the chops have smoked for 20 minutes, remove them from the stovetop smoker and brush on both sides with the remaining oil.
  • Grill for about 10 minutes on each side for medium.
  • Serve immediately, with the grilled merliton slices and the Green Apple Chutney and drizzled with the apple-soy glaze.
  • Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
  • Yield: about 2/3 cup
  • Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch.
  • Published by William and Morrow, 1993.
  • In a large non-reactive saucepan, combine all ingredients over high heat until the sugar melts and the syrup begins to boil.
  • Stir to combine well, reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook until the liquid has reduced to a thick syrup, the apples are very tender and the onions are transparent, about 40 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Transfer to a non-reactive bowl and refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 month.
  • Yield: about 5 cups