Spicy Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

The original recipe involves marinating and cooking on the grill. Given that I have neither a grill nor the wherewithal to plan ahead and marinate, I adapted the recipe a bit. 

These are seriously delicious.

If you don't have any smoked paprika, go get some. Seriously, do it now. Are you back yet? Okay fine, you can use regular paprika, liquid smoke like in the original, or just leave it out all together.

Spicy Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa

Adapted From the Original: Tasty Kitchen Firecracker Pork Chops

Serves: 4, Total Time: 30 minutes

For the pork chops:

• 1/4 cup Soy Sauce
• 2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika*
• 1 Tablespoon Sriracha Hot Sauce
• 3 Tablespoons Honey
• 4 whole,Boneless Pork Chops, 3/4 - 1 Inch Thick
• 2 cloves of Garlic, chopped

For the salsa:

• 1 cup Fresh Pineapple, diced
• 1 cup Red Bell Pepper, diced
• ¼ cups Diced Green Onion
• 2 Tablespoons Chopped Cilantro
• 1 Jalapeño, seeded and diced
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• ½ teaspoons Sriracha Hot Sauce
• Salt And Pepper

Add the soy sauce, smoked paprika,  Sriracha, honey, and garlic in a large ziptop bag. Shake to mix, then add the pork chops. Place in the fridge while you make the salsa.


For the pineapple salsa, mix all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium to medium low (cast iron works best). When the oil is hot, add the pork chops and the marinade to the pan. Careful, this may splatter. Cook until no longer pink in the middle, about 5 minutes per side.


Cover the meat with foil and allow them to rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

Notes:

I prefer not to eat crunchy bell peppers/jalapeños so with about a minute left to cook for the pork, I threw the salsa in the pan with the pork chops and let everything get warm and slightly cooked.

The original recipe calls for kiwi, but no jalapeño in the salsa. If you're into that, add it! The salsa would be delicious with pineapple as written or: mango, orange, papaya, or whatever you have lying around. 

Be brave, and try it!    

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