Costeletas de porco envoltas em bacon com glacê de vinagre de maçã

Ingredientes

• 1 1/4 pounds boneless pork chops (about 1-inch thick each)*
• 4 slices bacon (not thick cut)
• 1 tbsp olive oil, divided
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup onion, finely diced (1 ounce)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chicken base (I like Better Than Bouillon)
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme ((optional))
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1-2 tsp low carb sugar ((optional))

Modo de preparo

1. 1

   --- Preparation: ---

2. 2

   Trim the fat off of the pork chops and wrap a piece of bacon around each one, securing it with a toothpick. Rub a total of 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil over both sides of the pork chops and season both sides with salt and pepper. Finely dice the onions and mince the garlic.

3. 3

   --- Method: ---

4. 4

   Heat a pan over medium heat until hot but NOT smoking-hot. Add the remaining oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the pork chops on edge to brown the bacon, placing them right next to each other to keep them upright. Cook for 1 minute per side. This takes a little fiddling, but is worth the effort.

5. 5

   Place the pork chops into the pan to cook the top and bottom surfaces, 3-5 minutes per side depending on the thickness. Remove the pork to a plate and cover loosely with foil.

6. 6

   Add the onions and garlic to the pan and saute for 1-2 minutes or until they begin to turn translucent. If the pan is dry, add a little of the water to help them soften. Add the chicken base and thyme to the pan and stir. Add the water and then the vinegar to the pan and stir, scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan.

7. 7

   Reduce the sauce by half and add any accumulated juice from the pork back to the pan. Remove the thyme. Add the butter and stir until it has been incorporated into the sauce. Simmer and stir the sauce until it appears glossy. Adjust seasoning by adding sweetener if you would like, additional salt, and pepper.

8. 8

   Spoon the sauce over the pork before serving. It's not a lot of sauce, but is full of flavor with a nice acidity and mild sweetness. Serves 4.