Kitchen Conundrum: What Sauce Goes Best with Pork Chops?

“Hallo Taste Safari! I am cooking for friends in a few days and really want use the fresh pork chops I have from my local farmer. What sauce would you recommend to go with them? Thanks!” Sam in Durban.

Hi Sam! Well if you’re cooking for friends there’s one Taste Safari pork dish that immediately springs to mind, and that’s my Marslala wine cream veloute with apricot compote. This will blow your friends away, as the sweetness of the Marsala Wine works sublimely in this delicate yet rich cream-based veloute, adding sweetness and depth. The citrus elements of the apricot give the most amazing aroma to the dish, which your friends will smell as soon as they walk in the door, this is always a nice touch an dinner parties!

For the Apricot Compote you will need

1 cup of dried apricots finely chopped
1 tbs of butter
½ tbs of brown sugar
Juice of half a lemon
½ tsp of pink peppercorn finely crushed
¾ cup water

To Prepare the Compote

Heat the butter and once melted add the brown sugar.

As the brown sugar starts to melt, add the apricots, coating evenly.

Now add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a steady simmer.

Let this compote thicken and take on a shiny gloss. It should be thick and treacly but not lumpy and sticky. If you need to add more water, do so to thin it down.

For the Sauce you will need

2 cups of cream
½ wine glass of Marsala wine
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and Cracked Black Pepper for seasoning
2 tbs of butter

In a frying pan, add the 2 tbs of butter. Once melted add the marsala wine, this may sputter in the hot pan, so be careful not to burn yourself. Add the cream, salt and black pepper for seasoning. Bring this to a gentle simmer and add the lemon juice, stirring quickly. You can heat this gently just before serving.