MAPLE & MUSTARD PORK CHOPS WITH ROASTED ROOT VEG
Based on WestCoastMom's Canadian Pork Loin Chops on Allrecipes, this dish is a regular weekday go-to for me. Admittedly, this dish doesn't look particularly impressive on the plate, but who cares when it's so easy to prepare and full of flavour.

INGREDIENTS

Serves 4

FOR THE PORK

x4 pork loin chops

1tbsp light brown sugar

1/2tsp garlic powder

1/2tsp onion powder

1/2tsp smoked paprika

1/4tsp mustard powder

1/4tsp fennel seeds, crushed (I like to do this in a pestle and mortar, though if you don't have this lightly crush on a chopping board with the end of a rolling pin)

1/4tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4tsp salt

50g breadcrumbs

FOR THE VEGETABLES

Vegetable oil

225g carrots, cut into batons

225g parsnips, cut into batons

2tbsp maple syrup

Leaves from a few sprigs of fresh thyme

Salt and pepper, to taste

FOR THE GLAZE

4tbsp maple syrup

2tbsp dijon mustard

1/4tsp garlic powder

1/4tsp smoked paprika

1/4tsp freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

1

In a large bowl, combine the sausagemeat with the egg and breadcrumbs. The easiest way to do this is with clean hands. Pinch off teaspoon-sized pieces of the mix, roll into balls and set aside.

2

Heat some oil in a large frying pan set over medium-high heat. Once hot, fry the pork balls until browned all over; I recommend doing this in 2 batches. They needn't be fully cooked just yet, you just want them to get some colour. Set aside onto a plate.

3

If necessary, add some more oil to the pan. Fry the garlic, ginger, spring onion and red pepper for a minute until fragrant. Add the pineapple chunks and juice, chicken stock, sugar, tomato puree, soy sauces, Chinese rice wine and chilli flakes. Return the pork balls to the pan, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, adding the mangetout and baby corn halfway through cooking.

4

In a small bowl, dissolve the 1tbsp of cornflour in 1tbsp water. Add to the pan, and cook for a minute or two, until the sauce is nicely thickened. Then, you are ready to serve!

Serving Suggestion

I like to serve this dish with some white rice.

icheffedit Tip

Sausagemeat is usually easy to find in the meat section at the supermarket, but if you can't find any, you could purchase some regular sausages, snip off their skins and use the meat from there.