Cumin-Baked Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Suzanne

Cooked as directed the chops were a little tough. The 2nd time I made them, I brined the chops first for about 45 min in a mixture of 3 TB table salt in 1 Qt. water, rinsed, and wiped them dry, then cooked them as directed. They were much better.

Kate

I used 1-1/4 inch, on-the-bone chops. Browned in a little evoo for about 2 min a side. Then brushed with the mustard to which I had added about 3/4 tsp. of ground cumin and 1/2 tsp. of black pepper. No salt; the mustard has enough.

Then baked at 450 for about 8 min; the chops had an internal temp of 145 degrees. Rest for 5 minutes. I served it with broccolini that I roasted until tender and slightly scorched, and then tossed with lemon juice and grated Parmesan. Outstanding!

Karen

I heeded the comments of previous cooks about difficulty with browning the pork chops. I browned them first. I let them cool slightly and then applied dijon mustard, crushed cumin seeds and pepper. Also to increase the browning of the chops, I finished them under the broiler rather than baking. This recipe is simple and delicious.

Merle Gilmore

I used ground cumin, mixed it with the mustard, used olive oil instead of canola, then followed the directions - I'll cook this again (and again) -- easy for a weeknight but great for guests.

Jacqueline

Made in a nonstick skillet and no issue about sticking to pan -10 min in oven was perfect for 8 oz chops. I was a tad worried about about of cumin, especially freshly ground in a mortar as I did - but a big hit. I did brine the Frenched chops for 2 days in the brine indicated for a different recipe- http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/6176-cider-cured-pork-chops
which contains the best sentence yet in this section:" until the chops lurk in the liquid like frogs in a pond"...

jane

After 30 years of cooking, I finally learned how to make pork chops that aren't dry and chewy: brine them in salt water for a few hours first, then pat thoroughly dry before cooking. I don't understand how it works, but it does!

tim

I was lazy and made this recipe but I baked the pork chops, no frying beforehand. It was delicious I just cooked it at 360 for thirty minutes. Perfectly done and what great flavor!!!

Rex

What should those of us without cast iron skillets do?

Daniel

Made this and loved it. I only cooked it for 10 minutes.
Also, beware making this in a poorly ventilated apartment. It can smoke, and it set off my fire alarm.

Christine

My crust all fell off when I flipped the chop, it was all stuck to the pan. I used a well-seasoned, cast iron skillet as instructed. There just didn't seem to be anything to bind it to the chop.

Third.Coast

My recommendations for solving the "mustard won't adhere" problem are:

1 - Salt the chop on both sides and sear in the pan, both sides.

2 - Remove and season both sides with cumin.

3 - Put the chop back into the cast iron skillet and rub the top side with a bit of dijon mustard. Put the skillet in the oven.

Additionally, as I was making a rice dish on the side, I sliced a bunch of mushrooms and tossed them into the skillet with the meat to be perfectly browned.

Lneufeld

Have made this several times with great success. Last time, based on a note, I put a sliced apple and a pear under the chops after they were browned and before baking. When done I removed the chops and fruit, deglazed the pan with about a half cup of white wine, boiled down to a syrup, and stirred in soft butter. It was amazing. Used Berkshire pork chops which are worth the price.

Tammy

Used boneless pork chops (as they were all that was available at Park Slope Food Coop) so baked for only 8 minutes. Mustard is Kryptonite to my husband but cumin crusted anything is ambrosia so instead of mustard I coated the chops in a mixture of 4 tbsp of sour cream, mixed with 3 tbsp of ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, 1/2 tsp of chili pepper flakes, and a dash of salt. Does not provide the "bite" of Dijon but coats the chops well for the cumin and black pepper to adhere.

Aaron Taylor

If possible, used crushed cumin as recommended in the article - there is a significant (positive) difference in taste. I crush cumin seeds in my mortar and pestle, enjoying the aroma while crushing the seeds is part of the positive cooking experience. I tend to hand crush herbs and spices whenever possible just for this added enjoyment, working the spices by hand, smelling their sometimes pungent aroma as it is released, all part of the fun of cooking.

Douglas

Cooked as written - turned out great.
Instead of salting the chops directly, I sprinkle sea salt on the cast iron to stand the chop very slightly off of the high heat surface. Cumin crust stays on, chop gets seared and salted, life is good.

Ian

I normally love cumin, but this was just too much of a good thing for me. Tasted almost bitter. That said, I took someone's suggestion of adding sliced mushrooms to the pan as it went in the oven, with a drizzle of EVOO, and they were great!

Lorraine

Did not brine but cooked the chops on the scant side for about 8 minutes and they were good. Would make again.

Lori, Victoria, BC

Cooking the pork chops on a bed of sliced apple was a great tip. I cooked thick bone-in pork chops (browned first) in a Dutch oven covered for 10 minutes, then removed cover, cooked for another 10 minutes. It was quick, easy and the apple made a nice sauce without too much smoke in my kitchen. Nice with some basmati rice and asparagus and dinner ready in 1/2 an hour

Claire

Brined for 3 hours in 2 cups water 1/8 cup salt and sugar. No additional salt needed prior to cooking.

Lori W

I salted the chops, browned them on one side, flipped and smeared with mustard and spices on the top only and popped into the oven for 10-12 min. Yum!

ASG

Brined the chops in salt water for 3 hours. First seared the chops - each side for 2 minutes. No cumin / mustard yet. Let the chops rest off heat for a minute. I combined the mustard & cumin and made sort of a paste to cover the chops (added a small bit of water to soften it up)I put a layer of mushrooms in the pan and placed the chops on top - to keep the chops off the pan surface to avoid having the mustard/cumin stick. Then put the pan in the oven. Delicious.

Lisa C

Served this on a bed of wilted spinach...delicious!

Tammy

Haven't made this in awhile. Coated the chops in hummus because husband despises mustard and while that doesn't add a lot of flavor it does keep the coating on. Doubled the amount of black pepper to compensate for the missing mustard. 12 minutes was definitely too long in the oven - came out medium well. So next time - no more than 10 minutes in the oven!

Cheryl

Delicious! Loved the crunchiness of the cracked cumin seed and flavor was great. I've made a similar recipe using cracked coriander seeds and that's great also. Unfortunately, some of the mustard coating stuck to the pan but I'll take a hint from previous posts and put the mustand on after frying.

Jimbo

I skipped the browning step and baked the chops, over a bed of sliced sweet potato, at 375 for 30 minutes. Topped with spinach when done and covered the pan as the meat rested. Delicious and quick one-pan meal!

Dana I

Loved this dish! Followed the recipe and it was amazing.

chatty

Can’t figure out how to get the stuff to stay on the pork chop. When I flip, the coating sticks to the pan. Any idea what I’m doing wrong?

Kate

Did a mash of cumin and mustard. Nice. Cook at 450 for 20 minutes, flipping half way through. First did at Lake Muskoday on 8/10/23.

Carla in California

This was good. My changes are as follows: Fried some onions, set aside, fried chops per directions and set aside, drained oil, deglazed with sherry, everything went back in pan then in oven. Yum.

Bart

Suggested changes to this recipie to insure moist results 1. Salt brine in frig for 2-3 hrs. 2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 3. Add oil to skillen and put cast iron skillet in the oven for 10 min. 4. Remove from oven, and place chops in skillet, return to the oven for 10 min. 5. Remove from oven and sear/brown each side for 1 min on medium high heat. 6. Allow meat to rest for 2-3 min and serve.

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Cumin-Baked Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist pork chops? ›

Fat is key to keeping pork chops moist

Basting them with fat, such as butter. Add in aromatics while basting for more flavor — similar to how you might cook a steak — and then you have the added bonus of browned butter and crispy garlic and/or herbs to serve with the meat.

Is it better to bake pork chops at 350 or 400? ›

Baking pork chops at 400 degrees F will result in a slightly crisper, more caramelized exterior.

What is the best way to cook pork chops without them drying out? ›

Pork chops tend to dry out and burn when you cook them on the stove-top alone, but by frying one side first and getting it good and brown, then turning it over and putting it in the oven to finish cooking, you get the best of both worlds.

What is the best method to cook pork chops? ›

Because one of the best ways to bake pork chops is to start in an oven-safe skillet on the stove and then transfer them into a hot oven. High-heat frying sears them to a golden brown; and a moderately hot oven (400 degrees F) bakes the pork chops gently enough to keep them from drying out.

How do you keep pork chops from drying out when you bake them? ›

Salt will help your meat retain moisture. You can add salt directly, or use a salty liquid like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. And aromatics like garlic, shallots, herbs, and spices will impart flavor. When your marinade is ready, place your pork chops in a zipper bag and pour the marinade over top.

What liquid should I cook pork in? ›

Yes, it's generally recommended to add some liquid when cooking pork in a slow cooker to prevent it from drying out and to help distribute flavors. You can use broth, wine, barbecue sauce, or even just water depending on the recipe you're following.

Should I cover my pork chops when baking them in the oven? ›

Some baked pork chop recipes do require that the pan is covered with either foil or a lid. It creates steam and ensures that the meat is tender and juicy. Those recipes typically require a long cook time and may add vegetables to the pan, and some uncover the chops to finish browning them at a higher temperature.

How long do I bake 1 inch pork chops at 400 degrees? ›

On the other hand, if boneless pork chops are more appealing to you, you can cook your oven baked pork chops at around 15-19 minutes at 400 F. But if you have a thicker cut around 1 inch or so, try adding a few more minutes or until the thickest part reads 145 F degrees.

How long does it take to cook a pork chop in the oven at 350? ›

How Long to Bake Pork Chops. Bake pork chops that are about 1¼-inch thick at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 to 17 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're concerned about the bake time varying because the chops are boneless or bone-in, stop worrying.

Is it better to bake or pan fry pork chops? ›

If you've never been a fan of pork chops, it's likely because you've eaten overcooked meat. Start with pan-searing them to get a crisp exterior and finish them off in the oven to guarantee a non-rubbery chop.

Why do you rinse pork chops before cooking? ›

Some consumers may wash or rinse their raw meat or poultry because it's a habit or because a family member they trust has always washed their meat. USDA research has found that washing or rinsing meat or poultry increases the risk for cross-contamination in the kitchen, which can cause foodborne illness.

Why do my pork chops always come out tough? ›

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.

How do you get the most flavor out of pork chops? ›

Like steak or chicken, pork also needs a lot of salt to bring out all the flavor. If you really want to be fancy, you can brine the pork chops in some salt water (season it with other stuff like whole peppercorns and bay leaves).

Is it better to sear pork chops before baking? ›

Searing your pork chops before baking them is the way to go!

How do you make pork soft and tender? ›

How do you make pork soft and tender? Soak your pork in a salt-based brine before cooking it using your desired method. Pork chops need to soak between 12–24 hours, an entire pork tenderloin needs to soak for 6–12 hours, and an entire pork loin requires 2–4 days of soaking.

How do you add moisture to pork chops? ›

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

What do you soak pork chops in before cooking? ›

To brine pork chops before cooking, create a brine solution using kosher salt, sugar, and water. Dissolve the salt and sugar in water, then immerse the pork chops in the brine. Refrigerate for a few hours, allowing the brining process to enhance flavor and tenderness.

Why are my pork chops always dry and tough? ›

Overcooked Pork Chops Are Tough

This is partly due to carry-over cooking. Even when you take the chops out of the oven or off the stovetop, they still continue to cook a tiny bit due to the retained heat. And it's often this little bit that can take them from tender to tough.

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