Côtes de Porc Hongroise (Pork Chops With Paprika in Cream Sauce) 


This is a simple recipe, and it goes very quickly, especially at the end. Be careful not to cook down the cream sauce too much. It's not a disaster if you do, but you'll wind up with something drier and less luxurious.

4 loin pork chops, about 2 pounds (or 4 8-ounce pork chops)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
2 teaspoons peanut, vegetable or corn oil
¾ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup dry white wine
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.

1. Sprinkle the pork chops on both sides with salt, pepper and paprika. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the pork chops. Cook until nicely browned on one side, about 10 minutes. Turn and sauté until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Pour the fat from the skillet. Sprinkle the onion between the pork chops and cook briefly. Transfer the pork chops to a platter; keep warm. 2. Add the wine to the skillet and cook, stirring, until the liquid is almost fully reduced.Add the cream and cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the pork chops with the sauce on top. Serves 4. Adapted from "The New York Times 60-Minute Gourmet," by Pierre Franey.

 


1 pound fresh, unblemished small okra
2 tablespoons olive oil
Red-pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

1. Trim the stems off the ends of the okra, taking care not to cut into the interior 

of the pods.

2. Pour the oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat and allow it to heat until almost smoking. Add the okra and red-pepper flakes to taste. Sauté until the pods have softened slightly, but are still crisp and brightly colored, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 1 as a main course. Adapted from Julie Powell.

 


Use the freshest eggs you can find, and be very careful not to overpoach. A rubbery yolk here is a terrible disappointment.

1 head garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon dried sage
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
4 parsley sprigs
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 eggs, as needed
Chopped parsley, for garnish
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Crusty bread, optional.

1. In a large saucepan, combine the garlic, salt, pepper, sage, thyme, bay leaf, parsley sprigs and olive oil. Add 2 quarts of water. Place over high heat and bring to a boil; then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

2. Pour through a fine-meshed strainer into a heatproof bowl, pressing on the garlic to squeeze out as much flavor into the broth as possible. Let cool and then transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until needed.

3. To prepare a serving for one, ladle about 1 1/3 cups of broth into a small saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. Carefully break an egg into the broth (do not break the yolk) and poach until the white is just set, about 1 ½ minutes. (It will continue to cook off the heat.) Transfer the egg to a soup bowl and pour the broth gently over it. Garnish with parsley and cheese. If desired, serve with crusty bread. Makes 6 servings for one. Adapted from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking."



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