Boneless Pork Chops or Chicken Breasts "a la Mode" (with Sweet Cream Sauce)

Boneless Pork Chops or Chicken Breasts "a la Mode" (with Sweet Cream Sauce)

 

This recipe takes the classic idea of "a la mode" and flips it on its head. We’re not talking about ice cream (though that would be a fun twist), but instead juicy pork chops or chicken breasts smothered in a sweet cream sauce, loaded with apples, pears, and just the right amount of thyme to make it feel fancy. Ready to wow your taste buds? Not only will this dish impress anyone you serve it to, but it also gives you the perfect opportunity to casually mention “a la mode” at the dinner table and wait for someone to get confused. We guarantee they’ll be too busy enjoying the food to argue.

Ingredients

For the Apples and Pears:

  • 4 tablespoons butter

  • 3 Honeycrisp apples, peeled and sliced

  • 3 pears, a little underripe (your preferred type), peeled and sliced

  • ½ lemon, juiced

  • Salt, about 1 teaspoon

  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

  • ½ teaspoon smoked cinnamon or cinnamon

  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup

  • 1 cup cloudy cider or hard cider

  • 1 cup cream

For the Chops or Chicken:

  • 6 boneless pork loin chops, 1 inch thick, or 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • Salt and pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

  • 1 cup AP flour

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • 1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped

  • 2 ounces Calvados (apple brandy)

To Serve:

  • Shredded or crumbled or sliced sharp white cheddar cheese

Directions

Serves: 4 to 6

For the apples and pears, heat butter just over medium and melt. Add apples, pears, lemon juice, salt, thyme and cinnamon and soften 6 to 7 minutes. Add honey or syrup and cider and reduce over low heat until thickened and syrupy. Add cream and cook until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. 

For the chops or chicken, season pork or chicken with salt, pepper and thyme, then dredge in flour.  

Heat oil and butter over medium heat in large nonstick skillet and brown the meat 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden and almost cooked through. Remove, add shallots and cook to soften, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add Calvados and reduce by half. Turn the meat in sauce and remove from heat.    

To serve, top the chops or chicken with apples and pears and cheese and flash broil to melt cheese.