Porc grillé aux herbes de Provence

grilled pork2

Grilled pork chops with rosemary and thyme

The flavors of Provence are what make these pork chops special, whether you pan-sear your them or grill them on the barbecue. You may use the dried herbs sold in France as herbes de Provence – a mixture of rosemary, thyme and a variety of other herbs, for example marjoram, savory or basil – or create your own blend. Or, if you have access to fresh herbs, you may simplify by using fresh rosemary and thyme straight off the branch.

The key to success is to cook the pork just long enough for it to be crispy on the outside and succulent inside. Do not overcook, or the chops will be dry. Test by inserting a fork into the meat. As soon as the juice runs clear, not pink, the chops are ready.

2 pork chops, cut about 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) thick
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp. dried or fresh mixed herbs: rosemary, thyme, etc. (see above)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

An hour before you intend to begin cooking, place the pork chops on a large plate or board.

grilled pork3Peel the garlic and slice lengthwise into slivers. Lay half the slivers on top of the pork. Sprinkle the chops with half of the herbs and press lightly so that they stick to the meat. Turn the chops over on the plate and repeat with the rest of the garlic and herbs. Allow to rest at room temperature or in the fridge until ready to cook.

If grilling on the stove top, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil to sizzling. Add the chops and sear over high heat for 4 minutes. Flip them over and sear another 4 minutes, or until the juice runs clear when they are pricked with a fork.

If grilling on a barbecue, light the fire half an hour before you intend to cook. While the coals are heating, coat the chops with 1 tbsp. olive oil.

When the coals are hot, place the chops on the grill and cook close to the embers for 5 minutes. Flip and grill another 5 minutes, or until the juice runs clear when they are pricked with a fork.

Hint: It’s helpful to keep a glass of water beside the barbecue. It the coals flame up, sprinkle them with water to ensure the meat does not get charred.

Serve with potatoes, salad or seasonal vegetables. Serves 2.

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3 Responses to Porc grillé aux herbes de Provence

  1. Scott Fisher says:

    This sounds PERFECT. My wife just made two luscious-looking (and smelling!) tians, that beautifully layered, geometric, baked-ratatouille dish. We have a package of thick pork chops that we were planning to have with one of the tians tonight, so I looked up grilled Provençal pork dishes and found this one!

    We have fresh rosemary and oregano, as well as lemon thyme, so those will almost certainly go on the chops to infuse their aroma into the outer layer. A little salt from the Camargue will keep things very, very Mediterranean. Thank you for posting this!

  2. Suzanne Sutton says:

    Meg,
    How do I make a perfect recipe for Herbes de Provence.
    What is your recipe?
    What herbs do you choose to combine? How much of each?
    Do you only use fresh herbs?

    Thank you

    • Meg says:

      Hello Suzanne. Is there a perfect recipe for Herbes de Provence? Not really. Everyone makes their own combination. If living in France you can take the easy way out, as jars of the mixture are available at any supermarket. If not, you can easily mix your own, using one part each (e.g. 1 tsp.) of rosemary, thyme, savory, and oregano or marjoram, and one-half part of basil. The herbs need to be thoroughly dried before being combined, and the rosemary leaves should be chopped into smaller pieces. Once you’ve made up your mixture, store it in an airtight container and it will keep for months or years. Cheers, Meg

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