marydukecooks.com   Apple Wood Grilled Pork Chops with Smoked Blackberry Sauce

Did you know that it is possible to smoke meat on a gas grill? I’m talking about adding wonderful smoke flavor to foods you grill like hamburgers, chicken, or pork chops. All you need is a small smoker box (that you can buy at Lowe’s or Home Depot). You can even use a disposable pie plate!  It is so easy that you may never go back to your old way of grilling!

Apple Wood Grilled Pork Chops with Smoked Blackberry Sauce

4 thick cut, bone in pork chops
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Fresh thyme sprigs for grilling and garnish
8 ounces fresh blackberries
1 to 1 ½ cups apple wood chips, soaked in water for 1 hour then drained
¼ to ½ cup red wine vinegar (Depending on how tart you like the sauce.)
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon canola oil

Lightly oil pork chops with olive oil. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Place several thyme sprigs on each chop. Place on a plate and set aside. Take a small piece of foil and pull up sides to make a box. Pour blackberries onto foil. Set aside.

Turn on gas grill with smoker box on grate and lid down. When wood chips begin to smoke place blackberries in foil box on grate, close lid, and smoke  over medium high heat 15 minutes. Remove from grill and set aside.

Blend blackberries, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, honey, and oil with a blender or small food processor. Taste. If mixture is not tart enough stir in a small amount of remaining red wine vinegar until it suits you. Set aside.

Sear pork over high heat making grill marks then reduce heat to medium and cook until internal temperature is 145ºF (for medium well). Remove chops from grill and let rest 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with Smoked Blackberry Sauce and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs.  Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!

Published in The News and Neighbor on November 21, 2018