Kick up the flavor with these delicious and nutritious pork chops on a bed of cheesy rice. Blue cheese isn't just for salads! When paired with meat, blue cheese adds a unique flavor that you won't get from many other cheeses. Even when mixed with other seasonings and flavors, the taste of blue cheese still stands strong.
Blue cheese is commonly placed atop burgers, but with this recipe it's going to be paired with rice and pork chops. The cheese will be getting mixed into hot rice, creating a delicious blend of flavors that everyone will love. Meanwhile, the pork chops will benefit from added apple flavoring.
Pork chops are packed with protein, making them an excellent choice for your family's dinner menu. The blue cheese will add even more protein, ensuring that this is a meal fit for athletes. Whether you have sports players in your home or not, your family can benefit from such a nutritious meal.
So, what are you waiting for? With this ingredients list in hand, head to the store to pick up everything you need. Your family will rave about this particular dinner for weeks to come! This can even be a dinner to make to impress guests.
Blue Cheese ‘n’ Chops
Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
2½ cups cooked brown rice
4 green onions, sliced (about ½ cup)
⅓ cup apple juice
¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops, cut ½ to ¾ inch thick (about 12 ounces total)
1 red pear, cored and chopped
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions:
1. Spray a 2-quart square baking dish and a large skillet with nonstick coating; set aside. In a large bowl combine the cooked rice, green onions, 2 tablespoons of the apple juice, the walnuts (if desired), ¼ teaspoon salt, and the ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Spoon rice mixture into prepared baking dish.
2. In a small bowl stir together the thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt, and the ¼ to ½ teaspoon pepper. Rub onto both sides of chops. Cook chops in skillet over medium-high heat until browned, turning once. Arrange browned chops on top of rice mixture. Pour remaining apple juice over chops.
3. Bake, covered, in a 350° oven about 30 minutes or until no pink remains in chops and juices run clear. Transfer chops to serving plates. Stir chopped pear and blue cheese into hot rice mixture; serve with chops.
Serves 4
Serving size: 1 chop plus ⅔ cup rice mixture
Per serving
Calories: 305
Total Fat: 9 g
Sat: 5 g
Protein: 17 g
Carb: 38 g
Fiber: 3 g
Cholesterol: 45 mg
Sodium: 416 mg