Today we’re preparing a batch of pork chops marinated in fresh lemon juice and ginger, with plenty of crushed garlic, soy sauce, and fish sauce. This creates a pleasant and complex mosaic of savory umami notes, set against a backdrop that’s both fresh and crisp. We’re pairing the porkchops with coconut rice, and a blissfully spicy jalapeno dipping sauce.
Why You’ll Love Today’s Recipe
1) The Jalapeno Sauce. I was surprised that this little dip pretty much stole the show the night I served the porkchops. My son, who loves all things spicy, simply adored this dipping sauce. As an aside, it’s great on eggs, steak, and white bodied fish.
2) BBQ or Stovetop. Today’s recipe works both on the bbq or on a stovetop griddle or pan. Your choice.
3) Make Ahead (Sort Of). The marinade and sauce can be made a few days ahead of time. You can also leave the porkchops to marinate for up to two days. So, you can make today’s recipe ahead of time – sort of.
4) Coconut Rice. I’m not sure why or how I never thought of trying this before, but coconut rice is now one of my new favorite ways to eat rice. That said, the coconut flavor in the rice beautifully complements the flavors from the marinade, elevating both.
Ingredient Notes and Tips
1) Fish Sauce – What Is it? ‘Why’ Is It? Fish sauce is used to give recipes a distinct ‘umami-fish’ flavor, carried on abundant ‘saltiness’ or ‘brine.’ That’s the best way I can describe it, and there really isn’t a substitute, as fish sauce is more or less a ‘baseline’ ingredient in the recipes in which it’s used, especially since Soy Sauce and Fish Sauce are so often used together – as we’re doing today. Conversely, fish sauce ‘can’ stand in for anchovies in ‘some’ recipes, but oddly the reverse is ‘not’ true. All right, that’s ‘why’ and ‘how’ fish sauce is used, but ‘what’ is fish sauce? Well, for some reason, our distant ancestors the world over, from Ancient Rome to Ancient China, decided they loved the flavor of fermented fish – yes, that would be aged fish in the days ‘before’ refrigeration. Now, imagine that process for a second, from the perspective of the first person to do it. Someone caught a fish, left it to bake in the sun in its own juices, until it was quite literally falling apart with decay, after which they locked it away in a clay jar for months. They then discarded the now thoroughly decomposed fish and drank the juice. And that’s ‘what’ fish sauce is, removing any shadow of a doubt that our ancestors were far braver souls than we.
2) The Lemon Juice. I’d say you can get away with bottled lemon juice in the marinade, since it will be appearing alongside heavy and powerful ingredients, masking the qualities that make fresh lemon juice desirable. However, in the dipping sauce, fresh really is a must. On top of that, slicing a lemon into squeezable halves or wedges is practically as easy as opening a bottle and measuring it out. Furthermore, bottled lemon juice simply isn’t as flavorful, lacking the full ‘zest’ or ‘brightness’ of fresh lemon juice, since the juice begins breaking down chemically almost as soon as it leaves the lemon. Beyond that, the juice’s flavor is often times further diluted with preservatives.
Selecting Quality Pork
1) The Color – Pinker is Better. As with other meats, you want to pay close attention to the color. If the pork is ‘grey’ or ‘whitish,’ that means a lot of its juices have either ‘set,’ due to being left out for too long, or that they have simply drained away somewhere on its journey to your market shelf. By contrast, pork that is pinkish or ‘rosy red’ is still full of free-flowing juice, and will provide you with a tender, juicier piece of meat, and a more flavorful experience overall. This is also an indication that the meat hasn’t been sitting on a shelf, and of better-quality handling over all.
2) Marbling – The Skinny on Fat. The truth here is that if you want a ‘good’ tasting piece of meat, you need a piece with a decent amount of fat. The fat is where the flavor is. When the pork is cooking, the more ‘fat’ that reduces into the pan for the meat to cook in, and that ‘absorbs’ into the meat itself, the better tasting the pork will be – and the juicier it will be. You want a nice ‘rind’ of fat on the outside of the meat, as well as ‘speckled’ within the meat itself.
3) The Color of the Fat. The fat should be white. Period. Specs of ‘red’ or ‘black’ or traces of grey are a nonstarter. Those are signs of decay and poor handling.
4) Bones are White. If buying ‘bone-in’ pork, and this applies to all cuts with bones, you want a ‘white’ or ‘off-white’ bone. Dark bones are sign of encroaching decay, meaning the pork has been sitting out on the shelf much too long.
5) Or Do What I Do. Now, all of that’s well and good, but the way I assure myself that I’m getting quality pork is Butcher Box.
The main idea behind ButcherBox is that everyone can – and should – have access to high-quality, humanely raised meat. To this end, ButchBox is an affordable source of 100% grass-fed ‘and’ grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, pork that’s been raised crate-free, wild-caught seafood, all delivered to your door each month in 100% recycled packaging. Now, given that list, you’re probably just how affordable ButchBox could really be, and the answer is that average price of a meal from ButcherBox is just $6 USD, and shipping is always free. That’s right, no shipping cost – ever. So sign up, become a member, and start receiving monthly boxes of high quality, affordable meat. Yes, you customized your box on the fly, and members receive exclusive deals, priority access to new products, and a support team that’s available 24/7.
Another summertime favorite of ours are the pictured Bamboo Flatwear Set from Emerging Green. This bamboo cutlery set is an alternative to plastic and silverware making it also perfect and accessible for picnics, barbecues, school lunches, parties or everyday meals. It can be easily cleaned using dishwasher or with a quick hand wash.
PrintAsian Marinated Pork Chops with Coconut Rice & Spicy Jalapeno Sauce
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in pork chops - about 1 inch in thickness
- 2 tbs. corn oil
- Sliced scallions - for garnish
For the Rice:
- 2 cups white rice
- 13.5 oz. can of coconut milk
- 1 tbs. sugar
For the Marinade:
- 4 tbs. sugar
- 4 tbs. soy sauce
- 4 tbs. fish sauce
- About 8 cloves of garlic - chopped
- 1 red onion - chopped
- 2-inch piece of ginger
- 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbs. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
For the Dipping Sauce:
- 6 tbs. water
- 2 tbs. sugar
- 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbs. fish sauce
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 jalapeno
Instructions
- Prepare the rice in a rice cooker using the coconut milk to replace that portion of the water. Add the tbs. of sugar and proceed to cook in the rice cooker.
- Combine all of the ingredients for the marinade and stir together.
- Add the pork chops to the marinade. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for at least one hour or up to overnight is best.
- Heat a large cast iron frying pan with the corn oil.
- Add the pork chops. Do Not Overcrowd the pan.
- When a nice golden color is achieved on one side, turn the chops over and finish cooking on the other side. Do Not keep flipping the pork chops. The feel of the pork chop indicates the doneness. The firmer the meat the more done it is. The cooking process should take 10- 12 minutes, flipping once. Let the pork chops rest until they reach 140°F to 145°F, about 7-10 minutes.
- Bring marinade to a boil in a small saucepan and cook until reduced and thickened, about 5 – 6 minutes. Scrapping the bits from the pan.
- Serve pork chops with reduced marinade spooned over the top.
- Plate the rice with the pork chops and garnish with the scallions.
-
Place the ingredient for the dipping sauce in a food processor and process until smooth.This sauce goes very well with the pork chops and so many other things. Your imagination is your limit to its use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20
**This post contains affiliate links.
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Jessie says
These pork chops were amazing and the rice was paired so well with it.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you Jessie for trying my recipe and letting me know that you enjoyed it. It makes everything worthwhile. Thank you again and have a wonderful day!!
Biana says
These pork chops look delicious and very flavorful! What a great dinner recipe.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words and visiting. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Have a wonderful day!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
That coconut rice sounds so nice, I have to try it!
Catherine Pappas says
I hope that you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try. Thank you for visiting.
Julie says
These pork chops are bursting with so much flavor and I can't wait to make them.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try. Thank you for visiting.
Beth says
This looks amazing and perfect for dinner tonight! Sounds so delicious and packed with so much flavor! Excited to try this lovely recipe!
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Thank you always for visiting. Have a wonderful day!
Bernice says
I'm always looking for ways to eat the good old pork chop...and preferably grilled too. Great marinade for maximum flavour!
Catherine Pappas says
I hope that you enjoy this recipe. This would be perfect on the grill as well. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!
Heather says
This recipe sounds so delicious! I can't wait to make it for my family.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Have a wonderful day.
Chef Dennis says
This is making my tummy growl! Your Asian Marinated Pork Chops with Coconut Rice recipe is really good for my taste buds. I am so excited to taste the Spicy Jalapeno sauce.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Have a wonderful day!
Rosey says
This is a good way to make the chops. I like bamboo items for the kitchen too.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I like bamboo too. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
These sound like a great dish to enjoy with friends. I love that the marinade can be made in advance and the meat marinated to allow the flavours to penetrate the meat.
Catherine Pappas says
It is a good dish to enjoy with friends. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Thank you for your kind words and for visiting. Have a wonderful day.
Wren LaPorte says
This looks yummy! Have to see if my boyfriend will make it for me!
Cynthia Nicoletti says
I really like this recipe looks and sounds so good. I also like the idea of lemon on the side.
Catherine Pappas says
I hope that he does and that you both enjoy this dish together. Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. Have a wonderful day.
Dan "Jay" Reyes says
This looks really good, though I don't eat pork.
Catherine Pappas says
You may use this marinade on other meat or tofu as well if you do not eat pork. It is up to you. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!
Rhian Westbury says
I don't think I've ever had coconut rice, but it sounds like it would be really fresh and a nice contrast against the marinated pork chops x
Catherine Pappas says
It was my first time making coconut rice as well. I really did enjoy it and it did go well with the pork. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful day!
Yeah Lifestyle says
Yum! This looks so flavourful. I do love cooking with pork chops but not tried cooking it this way so will give this a shot
Catherine Pappas says
Well, I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. I love pork and am always trying to think up new ways to enjoy it. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderful day!
Luci W. says
Mmm mmm mmm, I love the flavor and texture combination of coconut and rice. I have never added sugar - but I can imagine it would be a good offset with savory and salty meat.
Catherine Pappas says
The rice was a nice addition to the pork. It was my first time making coconut rice and I really did enjoy it. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Thank you always for visiting and have a wonderful day.
Amanda Dixon says
This marinade is top notch! I just love the fish sauce and ginger together -- it made the most flavorful pork chops.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for taking the time to let me know that you enjoyed this recipe. It makes everything worthwhile. I appreciate you letting me know. Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting.
Lavanda Michelle says
Those pork chops look great! My sisters families would love to try them at the next cookout or get-together. Thanks for sharing!
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that your sister enjoys the recipe along with her family. Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!
Melissa Cushing says
Looks amazing and I love pork chops. The recipe is one I will be making soon and I already pinned the recipe 😉
Amy says
What a fabulous way to make pork chops! So flavorful, and the coconut rice is perfect!
Vasu Devan says
Nice! I am sure the dish is delicious and will be relished by those who eat meat.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words and visiting. Have a wonderful weekend.
Melanie says
This looks so delicious and flavourful! I'm craving pork chops! Adding the ingredients to my grocery list to make asap! Thanks!
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy this dish if you give it a try. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for visiting.
Jenny says
I tried this recipe, and I just had to come back to comment. My family loves these pork chops. My husband has even requested them on his birthday!
This one goes into our recipe collection. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for letting me know that you and your family enjoyed this recipe. What a wonderful compliment to that your husband requested them for his birthday. I am so grateful that you let me know. It truly makes everything worthwhile and makes my heart sing. A very Happy Birthday to your husband. Thank you always for visiting. Have a beautiful weekend.
Everything Enchanting says
This looks so delicious 😍 My husband loves pork chops, so I know he would definitely enjoy these 👌🏻 I need to give this recipe a try asap!
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting. I love pork too!! It is simply delicious! I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. Have a wonderful weekend.
DAVID J MYERS says
Catherine, Those pork chops look and sound great! Lots going on with them and it all sounds like something I could really go for. Love pork chops... Take Care, big Daddy Dave
Catherine Pappas says
Dear Dave, I love pork chops too. I will always pick them when given a choice. I hope that you and Laurie have a beautiful and blessed weekend. Please stay safe and well.
Kathryn says
This made such a delicious dinner! The asian marinade was so easy and had so much flavor! Will be making again soon 🙂
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting and letting me know that you enjoyed the recipe. It makes everything worthwhile and enjoyable to keep cooking!! I wish you a very beautiful weekend.
Veronika says
This recipe looks so delicious! I'm sure my hubby will love it, especially the addition of the jalapeno sauce 😉
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting. I hope that you and your hubby enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. I know that my son enjoyed the jalapeno sauce very much. I hope that you like it too. Have a beautiful weekend.
Tristin says
I have got to try this jalapeño sauce with these pork chops, sounds incredible!! May have to try this sauce on a few other things also.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting and for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a try. My son really did enjoy the jalapeno sauce and it does go well on other things too. It works as a dipping sauce as well. Have a beautiful weekend.
Liz says
Ok I wanna put this jalapeno sauce on everything now!! And the coconut rice had a lot of flavor. Definitely going to be making this again!
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting and letting me know that you enjoyed the recipe. It is very kind of you. It makes everything happy for me. I loved the jalapeno sauce too! It does go well with everything. It really has a nice spice to it doesn't it. Have a beautiful weekend.