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Vietnamese Pork Chops with Pickled Watermelon

By Susan Spungen

4.8

(8)

Image may contain Plant Food Produce Animal Seafood Lobster Sea Life Vegetable Dish Meal and Seasoning
Photo by Gentl & Hyers

This dish is a bold mix of salty, sweet, and acidic components. Crunchy slabs of melon and sharp greens keep it fresh; meaty chops provide depth.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

Pork Chops:

2 small shallots, thinly sliced into rings
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce (such as nam pla or nuoc nam)
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
4 1"-thick bone-in pork chops (about 2 1/2 pounds total)

Salad:

6 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
4 small shallots, thinly sliced
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups trimmed purslane or arugula
1/2 pound seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into pieces, thinly sliced
1/2 cup Pickled Watermelon Rind , thinly sliced

Preparation

  1. Pork Chops:

    Step 1

    Whisk shallots, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and Sriracha in a shallow baking dish. Add pork chops and turn to coat. Cover and chill, turning occasionally, at least 1 hour.

    Step 2

    Prepare grill for medium-high heat.

    Step 3

    Remove pork chops from marinade, scraping off excess, and grill until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.

    Step 4

    Do ahead: Pork chops can be marinated 12 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

  2. Salad:

    Step 5

    Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season with salt.

    Step 6

    Whisk vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add purslane, watermelon, and Pickled Watermelon Rind; season with salt and pepper and toss gently to coat.

    Step 7

    Serve pork chops with watermelon salad topped with fried shallots.

TagsVietnameseSoutheast AsianAsianPork ChopPorkMeatArugulaLeafy GreensVegetableWatermelonMelonFruitMainDinnerDairy FreeNut FreeGrillingBon Appétit

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