Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • grapeseed oil for the pan
  • 1⅓ cup red onion, (thinly sliced)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chili paste ((see notes))
  • 2 cups pineapple juice
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon low sodium Tamari
  • 4 (approximately 8-ounce) pork chops, (bone-in, about 1-inch thick)
  • 8 round slices fresh pineapple (click here for How to Peel and Cut a Pineapple.)
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • a few sprigs of cilantro for garnish

Instruction

  • Make the sauce. Coat the bottom of a medium-sized saucepan with the oil and place it over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until the onions are soft and caramelized, stirring every so often, 10 to 15 minutes.Mix in the chili paste, stir to combine, and then deglaze the pan with the pineapple juice.Add the Tamari and bring to a boil. Then, immediately reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit, 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
  • Heat grill. Preheat a stove-top grill or outdoor BBQ.
  • Prep pork chops and pineapple slices. Season both sides of the pork chops with salt and pepper, and season both sides of the pineapple slices with pepper only. Drizzle both the pork chops and the pineapple slices with grapeseed oil, being sure both sides are well coated.
  • Grill. Once the grill is very hot, add the pork chops and pineapple slices. You should hear a sizzling sound when they hit the pan -- if you don't, wait! The grill needs to be very hot for everything to caramelize and char properly.Turn the pork chops over when the bottoms are well marked from the grill, about 2 minutes. Then turn the heat to low, cover loosely with foil, and let them finish cooking just until the pork is cooked through, about 8 minutes. (The pineapple slices should grill for about 3 minutes per side. Remove them from the grill when they're done, while you continue to cook the pork.)
  • Assemble and serve. On a large serving platter, or on individual serving plates, place each pork chop on top of 2 of the grilled pineapple slices.Drizzle the pineapple-onion sauce over the pork chops, and spoon a bit beneath them, too. (For a more elegant presentation, you can slice the pork off the bone and fan it out over the pineapple.)Garnish with cilantro and serve!