Grilled Gorgonzola Stuffed Pork Chops with Balsamic Pear Sauce

This post goes out to Cork and Spoon – check it out!  Cork and Spoon is a fantastic food blog written by two friends (Ruth & Emilie), that I have been following for a while.  A few weeks ago Ruth made Gorgonzola Stuffed Pork Chops.  When I saw the recipe it sounded so good I knew I would be making it!  I absolutely love gorgonzola and pears together … what a great flavor combination.  I changed the recipe a bit and put the pork chops in a brine, and then grilled them stuffed with gorgonzola, accompanied with a pear balsamic sauce on a bed of sautéed kale.  Thank you Ruth for the inspiration!  The pork chops stuffed with blue cheese were awesome!  The gorgonzola put them over the top.

Ingredients:

•  2 pork chops
• 2 medium sized shallots, chopped (approximately ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons)
• ¼ cup gorgonzola cheese
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 2 teaspoons olive oil + 1 tablespoon
• 2 Pears, peeled and cut into chunks
• ½ – ¾ cup balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Prepare brine by adding 2 tablespoons salt and 1 tablespoon sugar to 2 cups of water, stir to combine.  Add pork chops to the brine and let them soak no longer than 1 hour.

While pork chops are in the brine pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan.  Bring to a boil and cook until reduced by ½, about 10 minutes.  When the vinegar cools, it should be the consistency of syrup.  Set aside.

Melt butter and olive oil in a sauté pan and add shallots and cook until brown and caramelized.  Add pears and sauté briefly until semi-soft.  Add balsamic vinegar and stir until combined.  Keep warm on low heat.

In another sauté pan add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat.  Add kale and 2 tablespoons of chopped shallots and cook until kale is wilted.

Remove pork chops from their brine and pat dry.  Cut a slit in each pork chop and stuff with blue cheese.  Close with a toothpick.  Rub olive oil on both side of the pork chops and grill on a hot grill for approximately 4-5 minutes per side depending on thickness.

Place sautéed kale on a plate, top with pork chop and balsamic pear sauce.  Serve and enjoy!

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