Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon celery seed
  • 1 tablespoon dry mustard
  • 1 tablespoon mustard seed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground turmeric
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 pound tomatillos, husks removed, washed and cut into wedges
  • 1 pound green tomatoes, cut into1/2-inch dice
  • 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 2 jalapenos, seeded, deveined and minced
  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded, deveined and cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 1 large Vidalia onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 1/3 medium head cabbage, chopped
  • 4 bone-in pork chops (1 pound each), Frenched by butcher
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs, plus 1 cup finely ground
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/3 cup half-and-half
  • 2 cups canola oil, plus more as needed

Method

  • For the chowchow: Combine the cider vinegar, sugar, celery seed, dry mustard, mustard seed, salt, turmeric and bay leaves in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
  • Bring to a boil, then immediately lower to a simmer and cook for 5 to 10 minutes to extract all the flavors of the spices.
  • Bring the liquid back to a boil and add the tomatillos, green tomatoes, garlic, jalapenos, red peppers, onions and cabbage.
  • Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are fully softened, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Remove the chowchow to a bowl and let cool.
  • Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 month.
  • For the pork chops: Set one pork chop in the center of a large cutting board.
  • Cover the chop with a sheet of heavy plastic wrap.
  • With a meat mallet, pound out the pork chop to an even 1/4-inch thickness, working from the middle out.
  • Repeat with the remaining pork chops.
  • Combine all of the panko in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper.
  • In another shallow dish combine the flour with the granulated garlic, onion powder, and some salt and pepper.
  • Whisk the eggs with the half-and-half and add to a third shallow dish; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Take a pork chop and dip the meat (not the bone) into the flour, then into the egg, and finally into the panko, making sure the chop is well-breaded.
  • Repeat for the remaining pork chops.
  • Let the breaded pork chops rest for 5 to 10 minutes before cooking.
  • Heat the canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add a pork chop to the hot oil and cook until golden brown on both sides, 4 minutes per side.
  • Remove to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain.
  • Repeat with the remaining pork chops, adding more oil as needed.
  • Set the pork chops on plate and garnish with 3/4 cup of the chowchow, spooned over the center of each chop.