Barbeque Pork Chops and Herb & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

The long Independence day weekend was fantastic. It rained all 3 days in Delhi, though intermittently, and the weather was perfect for a cooking outdoors. This was a perfect time for me to take out my latest acquisition, a weber's smokey joe portable grill and head to a nice retreat. 2 days of grilling and having fun with kids has left me totally refreshed. It was also good fun to catch up with some old friends and forget work for sometime.

My friend decided to do Pork Chops on Sunday and it was the last meal before we headed back to the daily grind. It was a simple recipe with Bbq sauce and did not take too much time. I contributed on the side by making up some herb and garlic mashed potatoes.

For trivia sakes, Pork Chops is the favorite food of Homer Simpson (The Simpsons). :)

Bbq Pork Chops

Ingredients:

Pork Chops - 10

Malt Vinegar - 1 Cup

Tomato Ketchup - 1 Cup

Tabasco Sauce - 10 drops

Garlic, minced - 3 cloves

Cloves - 4

Paprika - 1/2 Tsp

Mustard Sauce - 2 tsp

Black Pepper - 2 Tsp

Worcestershire Sauce - 2 Tblsp

Brown Sugar - 2 Tblsp

Water - 1/2 Cup

Sea Salt - 2 Tsp

Olive Oil - 1 Tblsp

Method:

1. Put a pan on flame and add in all the ingredients, except the pork chops.

2. Mix well and let it come to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool. The Bbq sauce is ready.

3. Place the pork chops in a large deep bowl. Pour the bbq sauce over the chops. Leave aside in a cool place for 3 hours.

4. Heat the grill. Grill the pork chops over charcoal for 5-7 minutes each side. baste each side with the bbq sauce while grilling.

5. heat the remaining bbq sauce. Serve with the Pork Chops.

Note: You can add in Honey and celery salt if you wish. I did not have them at the place where we were grilling. :)

Herb & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

Potatoes, peeled & quartered - 2 Kgs

Garlic, peeled & chopped - 20 cloves

Butter - 3 Tblsp

Milk - 3/4 Cup

Parsley, chopped - 1/2 cup

Basil - 1 Tblsp

Chervil - 1 Tblsp

Chives - 1/2 tsp

Black Pepper, freshly ground - 2 Tblsp

Salt - To Taste

Olive Oil - 1 Tsp

Method:

1. Boil the potatoes in a large bowl of water alongwith 7 cloves of garlic, salt and 1 tsp olive oil. Simmer till potatoes are tender.

2. Drain when done and pass the potatoes and cloves through a ricer. (you can mash them whichever way you prefer).

3. Heat butter in a large pan. Add in the remaining garlic. Saute till translucent.

4. Add in the mashed potatoes and milk. Mix well.

5. Add in the herbs and black pepper.

6. Season with salt and Serve.

Note: If potatoes appear too stiff, add in more milk.

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Chaamp Masala (Mutton/Lamb Chops Indian Style)

The last 3 weeks have been an overdose of rich tandoori Indian food, kind courtesy visits to restaurants almost every second day. This recipe has been an after effect of those visits and as I write this post, I am already planning to recreate the Burrah Kabab that is served in Bukhara and the Kurkuri Bhindi from Vedas.

Chaamp Masala

Ingredients

Mutton/Lamb Chops - 500 gm
Yogurt - 1 Cup
Red Chili Powder - 1 Tsp
Coriander Powder- 2 Tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 2 Tsp
Green Chillies, chopped finely - 2
Ginger-Garlic Paste - 3 Tblsp
Salt - To Taste
Oil - For Basting
Brown Onion Paste - 1/2 Cup
Lemon Juice - 2 Tblsp
Amchur Powder (Raw Mango Powder) - 1 Tsp, for sprinkling before serving.
Onion Rings - For Garnish

Method:
1. Clean and trim the mutton/lamb chops.
2. Whisk together yogurt, brown onion paste, ginger-garlic paste, Red Chili powder, garam masala powder, green chillies and salt. Chill.
3. Rub the chops with coriander powder and marinate in lemon juice for 30 minutes.
4. After 30 minutes, marinate the chops in the yogurt mixture for 2 hours.
5. Put the chops on a hot plate and cook. You can alternately cook them on a grill or a pan too.
6. Sprinkle amchur powder before serving. Garnish with onion rings and serve with mint chutney.

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