Pork Chops with Thyme Pan Sauce Recipe | Myrecipes

Heat a large stainless steel skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil; swirl to coat. Sprinkle pork with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add pork to pan. Cook 4 minutes; turn and cook an additional 3 minutes or until done. Remove from pan. Why? The proteins and sugars that meat releases as it sears stick to the stainless steel pan (unlike nonstick). The protein bits are called fond. Add shallots to pan; sauté 90 seconds. Add wine; cook 2 minutes or until reduced by half, scraping pan with a flat wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Why? Adding liquid to the pan and heating it makes it possible to scrape up the fond. The browned bits dissolve and add deep, meaty flavor to the deglazing liquid. Add stock. Bring to a boil; cook 4 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup. Add thyme sprig. Remove from heat. Whisk in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Spoon sauce over chops. Why? The resulting deglazed mixture is now a flavorful base for a sauce that's enriched at the end with butter. The salt's flavor concentrates as the sauce cooks, so season at the end.