Disclosure: This post was sponsored by National Pork Board. The opinions stated are my own. My family loves pork. Not only is it inexpensive and flavorful, but pork is also the jack-of-all-proteins that works in a myriad of dishes. It is a diverse protein giving people the ability to unite through food. In Japanese cuisine, you can find many classic and favorite recipes – from tonkatsu, tonjiru, chashu, to gyoza – that make the best of this versatile meat. Once in a while, we like to treat ourselves to the decadent kurobuta pork chops, and one of the best ways to enjoy this premium cut is Grilled Kurobuta Pork Chops with Miso Sauce.
What is Kurobuta
Kurobuta translates to the black pig in Japanese. It is a heritage breed that came from Berkshire UK and first imported to Japan in the 19th century. The meat is more marbled, juicy, and flavorful than regular pork. Many restaurants all over the world now serve kurobuta on their menu but we’ll show you how to cook and enjoy this wonderful meat at home. In addition, while my family and I were unable to travel to Japan this summer (due to current events) I find that I can connect via cooking. Making recipes with Japanese ingredients always transports a small part of me back there and it’s quite comforting!
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Kurobuta Pork Chops with Miso Sauce
Super easy to make! Simple pantry ingredients. Minimal kitchen time (mostly inactive time in the fridge and oven). Amazing flavors from the pork and sauce!
2 Winning Reasons to Use Kurobuta Pork Chops
1. Enjoy restaurant-quality premium pork at home
In recent years, we’ve seen kurobuta more often on the menu when we dine out at non-Japanese restaurants. Many chefs now prefer kurobuta for its remarkable tenderness and flavor. With the travel and dining restrictions currently in place, you can treat yourself and loved ones at home with this restaurant-quality dish.
2. Juicier than the average pork chop
When it comes to minimally prepped food, it goes without saying that quality ingredients matter. Kurobuta pork is simply juicier than standard pork chops. If you can’t find kurobuta locally, talk to your butcher and ask whether they carry Berkshire pork, or get their best recommendations for grilling. There are a variety of bone-in pork chop options that will work for this recipe!
How to Make Juicy Pork Chops
Dry Brine
Have you had pork chops that are dry, chewy, and unpalatable? What if I tell you that there’s an effortless way to avoid the blunder? The easy solution is always dry brine your pork chop before grilling. Sprinkle kosher salt on both sides of pork chops and let it sit in the fridge for a day. It’ll make a huge difference! We tested our recipe with dry brined pork chops and also without dry brining. The result was night and day! Whether it’s standard pork chops or premium kurobuta, the same technique applies.
Reverse Sear
There are a number of ways to cook pork chops and our preferred method is to reverse sear them. Cook the pork chops at a low temperature until the entire cut has reached 145 ºF (63 ºC). Then quickly sear on high heat to give it a nice crust. This cooking method results in a uniform texture throughout and you don’t need to worry about over or undercooking. We prepared these pork chops in the oven but you can also slow cook them in a smoker or barbeque grill. You can learn more about reverse sear in this post.
Temperature
The temperature we like to shoot for is 145 ºF (63 ºC) the thickest part of the chopand we use a meat thermometer to measure this. You might have heard that pork must be cooked until juices run clear and the meat is white. This is not true! According to the National Pork Board, with modern pork production practices, commercial retail pork is safe when cooked to an internal temperature of 145 ⁰F, which will be a light blush pink color. These standards are determined by the USDA and FDA Food Code. The most delicious pork is not overcooked! However, please keep in mind thicker cuts of pork like ribs and shoulders will require a higher internal temperature. Learn more about different kinds of pork cuts here.
Miso Sauce With A Spicy, Citrusy Kick
Once you have perfectly cooked pork chops, it’s time to flavor them. We use a standard Japanese marinade of soy sauce, mirin, and sake as the base sauce. Then enliven up with a couple of spoonful of miso and a touch of yuzu kosho. The resulting pork has just the perfect amount of natural sweetness along with a kick from yuzu kosho. You might have a favorite way to make pork chops but we highly encourage you to give this miso sauce a try. It’s so flavorful and refreshing at the same time. Our daughter who doesn’t care for spicy food couldn’t get enough of it. The first taste is just a tiny bit of heat, then you taste the citrus and the umami from the miso sauce. When paired with juicy pork, you get a sensational pork dinner that leaves you excited for days!
What is Yuzu Kosho
Yuzu kosho is a Japanese condiment made with yuzu peel and chili peppers. It has a unique zesty citrus flavor and a gentle spicy kick that goes harmoniously with many Japanese dishes. Yuzu kosho originated from Kyushu area but is now popular all over Japan. Our family always has a jar of yuzu kosho in our fridge at all times. We use it with sashimi, miso soup, or whenever we’re in the mood for a little spice. If you have been to Kyushu and tried dishes with yuzu kosho and loved them, we hope this pork chop recipe will bring back your happy memories. Every time we drink miso soup with yuzu kosho, we think of our ryokan stays and cave hot springs experience.
What to Serve with This Dish
I’d serve this pork chop with the following sides:
Steamed white rice or brown rice Green Bean Gomaae Asian Coleslaw Japanese Potato Salad Pickled Watermelon Rind
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