Sesame-Coated Pork With Apricot Sauce

Coat juicy pork in sesame seeds for an easy weeknight dinner that's also stunning.

Sesame Coated Pork with Apricot Sauce
Photo: Greg DuPree
Hands On Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4

This is a weeknight dinner for the books. Use sesame seeds as an upgrade to breadcrumbs for crunch and a nutty flavor. The umami-rich apricot sauce and gingery spinach add a delicious fusion twist to your plate. Round things out with fluffy rice. Or, for a lighter take, serve the pork with sliced cucumbers spritzed with rice vinegar and a drizzle of sesame oil.

Tip: Opt for pork chops no thicker than 1/2 inch to guarantee quick cooking and perfectly golden (not burned) sesame seeds.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup short-grain white rice

  • ½ cup dried apricots (3 1/2 oz.), finely chopped

  • ¼ cup low-sodium tamari or soy sauce

  • 2 tablespoons honey

  • 4 boneless pork loin chops (about 1/2 in. thick) (4-oz. each)

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided

  • ½ cup sesame seeds (black and/or toasted white sesame seeds)

  • 2 ½ tablespoons canola oil, divided

  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (from a 1-in. piece)

  • 20 ounce fresh spinach

Directions

  1. Cook rice according to package directions.

  2. Place apricots in a small saucepan with 3/4 cup water, tamari, and honey. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until syrupy, 8 to 10 minutes.

  3. Pat pork chops dry and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Place sesame seeds in a shallow dish. Working with 1 pork chop at a time, dredge in sesame seeds, pressing firmly to adhere.

  4. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium until shimmering. Add pork; cook until seeds are golden and pork is cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a towel-lined plate.

  5. Wipe skillet and increase heat to medium-high. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add spinach in batches; cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes.

  6. Serve rice with pork chops and spinach. Spoon sauce over pork.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

618 Calories
22g Fat
69g Carbs
40g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 618
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 22g 28%
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 1155mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 69g 25%
Dietary Fiber 8g 29%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 40g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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