Thick Chops with Mustard Crust

This is one of my very oldest recipes, the way I've been cooking my family's favorite "Iowa chops" in the oven for ever so long. The chops are topped with a mustardy crust of mustard (naturally!), bread crumbs and fresh herbs.

This is a 2003 column published for the first time in 2007 to accompany a special piece, The Heartbeat of Iowa, about my recent trip to Iowa to visit some 'happy pigs'.

Here’s a recipe destined to become a household staple because of its simplicity and flexibility.

It’s simple enough for weeknight fare but special enough for guests. It makes up in minutes and can be made in advance.

Most of all, the recipe invites your culinary creativity.

Out of mustard? That’s okay, substitute a tangy horseradish sauce. No parsley? Try rosemary or tarragon or cilantro or oregano or …

French bread crumbs are soft and delightful but what about trying rye or pumpernickel? No time to make bread crumbs? Use dry crumbs (but cut the quantity by about half).

Prefer a bit more spice to your meat? Sprinkle the chops with cayenne pepper or chili powder. Not in the mood for pork? Experiment with chicken or fish or lamb.

ALANNA's TIPS If your butcher looks puzzled by the term 'Iowa chop', just ask for rib chops cut one-inch thick.

If there's time, brine the pork chops first in a quart of water with 2/3 cup of brown sugar and 2/3 cup kosher salt. It will add moisture to the meat.

QUICK SUPPER:
THICK CHOPS with MUSTARD CRUST

Hands-on time: 15 minutes
Oven time: 25 minutes
4 servings

4 1-inch “Iowa” pork chops
1 tablespoon good mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons good mustard
1 cup fresh bread crumbs from French bread

Preheat oven to 350F.

CHOPS Coat tops and bottoms of chops with thin mustard coat. Season with salt and pepper.

CRUST Stir together crust ingredients and divide equally on top of chops. Press crumbs lightly with back of a spoon to adhere. Transfer to lightly oiled heavy baking pan.

Bake for 25 minutes or until meat reaches an internal temperature of 150F. If the crumbs don’t brown, place under the broiler for one or two minutes – watching carefully to prevent burning!

NUTRITION ESTIMATE Per Serving: 397 Calories; 13g Tot Fat; 5g Sat Fat; 20g Carb; 1g Fiber; 320mg Sodium; 133mg Cholesterol; 46g Protein.

Weight Watchers Old Points 9, PointsPlus 10

Iowa Chops are large, the “ladies” typically share a large chop, while the men go for whole ones.

Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences.

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