Oven Baked Pork Chops In Tomato Sauce

Tender baked pork chops in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic herbs and spices. A flavorful family meal.

📝 Ingredients

• olive oil
• 4 pork chops ((about 250-300 grams each) left at room temperature for 30 minutes)
• 140 grams (1 medium-sized) onion (minced)
• 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
• 300 grams (3 medium-sized) Roma tomatoes (finely diced)
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 250 grams (1 cup) tomato passata (tomato sauce)
• 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) hot water or stock
• 2 teaspoons dried marjoram or oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 bay leaf
• 4-5 allspice berries or 1/3 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• coarse sea salt
• ground pepper

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F.
2. 2Heat a splash of olive oil in a saute pan.
3. 3Saute onion and garlic.
4. 4Add the fresh chopped tomatoes and season with coarse sea salt. Cook over high heat until the tomatoes drain and start sticking to the pan.
5. 5Add in the tomato passata, sugar (add if tomatoes aren't too sweet), marjoram (or oregano), thyme, coriander, allspice, bay leaf, and the hot water or stock. Season with ground pepper as well.
6. 6Simmer for about 20 minutes over moderate heat until the sauce thickens. Meanwhile, prepare the pork chops.
7. 7Beat each pork chop with a meat tenderizer. Then season each chop on both sides with coarse sea salt and ground pepper.
8. 8Take the sauce off the heat and stir in the parsley.
9. 9Spread half of the sauce and coat the bottom of a baking pan or dish, big enough to fit the pork chops.
10. 10Add the pork chops on top and coat with the remaining sauce.
11. 11Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.
12. 12Remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes.
13. 13Serve with fried potatoes or steamed rice on the side.