Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops

Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops are so moist and tasty, you won’t believe how simple they are to make.  Vito recreated this recipe from memory of a family recipe which his mother and maternal grandmother would make but never wrote down; it was served very often a family summer barbecues.  The simple but flavorful stuffing permeates the pork while the very simple marinade (two ingredients!) tenderizes and moisturizes the pork chops; relatively quick grilling locks in all that flavor to produce very tasty results.  Fire up your grill and prepare some Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops at your home; serve them with Broccoli Aglio e Olio (Broccoli with Garlic and Oil) or Green Beans Marinara for an Italian dinner.

Prep Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes plus marinating time.  Serves 2.

Ingredients:

• 4 1-inch thick boneless Pork Chops
• 3 Tbs Plain/Unseasoned Bread Crumbs
• ½ tsp ground Black Pepper
• Two 1/2 tsp Smoked Sweet Paprika or regular Sweet Paprika
• 1 Tb minced Garlic
• 3 Tbs mixed grated Cheeses (recommend Parmesan and Pecorino Romano)
• 8 fresh Sage leaves minced or 1 ½ tsp ground dried Sage
• 1 large Egg, beaten
• 4 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
• 12 Wooden Toothpicks (3 per chop)

Preparation:

1. Using a sharp, pointed knife, make a deep pocket lengthwise in each pork chop.
2. Combine the bread crumbs, black pepper, ½ tsp smoked paprika, garlic, grated cheeses and sage in a deep bowl. Add the beaten egg to the bowl and mix together to form the stuffing.
3. Using a spoon, fill the pocket of each pork chop with a quarter of the stuffing.
4. Use 3 wooden toothpicks per chop, insert the toothpicks through the sides of the chop at an angle to secure the pocket and prevent the stuffing from falling out.
5. Pour the vinegar into a container or baking dish large enough to hold all the chops and sprinkle the remaining ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika over the vinegar.
6. Carefully place the stuffed pork chops into the seasoned vinegar in the container or baking dish, spoon some of the marinade over each chop, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours. Turn the chops over once mid-way through the marinating time.
7. Remove the marinating pork chops from the refrigerator and bring them to room temperature, then heat your grill to medium-high.
8. Using tongs, carefully lift the pork chops out of the marinade and place on the grilling surface over a direct heat; grill for 6 to 8 minutes per side, until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
9. Remove the Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops from the grill to a platter and allow them to rest for 2 or 3 minutes prior to serving. You may remove the toothpicks prior to serving or serve as is and advise your guests to do so.