by Lori Zanteson

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce  Recipe

Rhubarb has been used in folk healing for centuries, and it continues to be one of the most widely used plants in Chinese medicine today. While it was thought to possess health attributes, specifically for the digestive system, rhubarb wasn't cultivated for food until the 18th century, in America. Rhubarb is easily identified by stunning pink stalks barbed with a bite so sour it's often tempered with sugar, earning the name "pie plant" early on for its use in pie and tart fillings. Today, its role extends beyond the pie plate -- it's "in the pink" because of its nutrient contributions.

Though sometimes classified as a fruit due to its close partnership with other fruits, rhubarb is actually a vegetable with several species in the genus Rheum of the buckwheat family. Celery-like stalks are brightly hued and beautifully streaked in red, pink and green. A one-cup serving provides 45 percent DV (daily value based on 2,000 calories per day) of vitamin K, which plays a role in blood clotting. Rhubarb is also a notable source of vitamin C, potassium, manganese, calcium and fiber. Note, however, that the leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid; consuming a large quantity can be toxic to humans and animals, and cause burning in the mouth or difficulty breathing.

The health benefits of rhubarb, which have long been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, are now getting a nod from modern research. A review of Rheum palmatum, the species of rhubarb used in Chinese medicine, found potential anti-cancer properties in anthraquinones, polyphenol antioxidant compounds found in the plant. (Medicinal Research Reviews, September 27, 2007.) And a Scottish study published in the March 15, 2010 issue of Food Chemistry identified 40 different polyphenol components in British rhubarb. The study also found that baking it for 20 minutes significantly increased the yield of the polyphenols in the rhubarb.

Fresh rhubarb is available in markets from early winter through early summer. Choose crisp, bright pink stalks and peel any tough outer strands before slicing. Stalks store well for two to four weeks, refrigerated. Rhubarb may also be canned, frozen and dried.

Rhubarb is magnificent in a savory stew or tangy sauce or relish alongside roast chicken or pork. Not only will it add variety and kick up the nutrition, it will make any dish "pretty in pink."

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce

    Prep Time: 15 minutes

    Cook time: 60 minutes

    Yield: Serves 4

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce Ingredients

    4 bone-in, center-cut, lean pork loin chops

    1/4 tsp salt

    1/4 tsp pepper; coarsely ground

    1 tablespoon canola oil

    2 cups rhubarb, chopped

    1/4 cup apple juice concentrate; thawed

    2 tablespoon honey

    1/2 tsp nutmeg, ground

    2 tablespoon water

    1 tsp cornstarch

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce Recipe Instructions

    Rub the pork chops with salt and pepper.

    In an oven-proof skillet, brown the pork chops in oil. Remove to platter.

    To prepare the rhubarb sauce, stir together rhubarb, apple juice concentrate, honey and nutmeg in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer ten minutes. Mix water and cornstarch and stir into the rhubarb mixture, cooking for an additional two minutes.

    Cover bottom of skillet with one-third rhubarb sauce and arrange pork chops on top.

    Top the pork chops with an additional one-third rhubarb sauce.

    Cover and bake at 350 F for 45 minutes. Remove cover and pour remaining rhubarb sauce over pork chops. Bake 15 minutes longer and serve.

Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce Nutritional Information per Serving:

    309 calories, 40 grams (g) protein, 9 g fat, 13 g carbohydrates, 251 milligrams sodium, 1 g fiber.

1 Cup Raw, Diced Rhubarb Notable Nutrients

    Calories: 26

    Vitamin C: 9.8 milligrams (16 percent DV)

    Vitamin K: 35.7 micrograms (45 percent DV)

    Dietary Fiber: 2.2 grams (9 percent DV)

    Calcium: 105 milligrams (10 percent DV)

    Potassium: 351 milligrams (10 percent DV)

    Manganese: 0.2 milligrams (12 percent DV)

    (DV = Daily Value)

This Pork Chops with Rhubarb Sauce Recipe adapted courtesy The Rhubarb Compendium

 

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