Easy Baked Pork Chops (With Honey Garlic Glaze)

These sweet and savory baked pork chops are juicy, tender, and come together in less than 30 minutes. They pair well with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. 

In this recipe, we will be using a bone-in chop, but you can easily substitute a boneless version. We do find the bone-in chops have a richer flavor and are less prone to drying out. Boneless can be just as tender, you will just need to adjust the cooking time. 

Choosing Your Pork Chops

Pork can be a delicate, juicy cut of meat when prepared properly. The first steps to success involve selecting the right chops in the first place. A few things to look for when choosing your chops:

• Thickness

Avoid chops that are any less than 1 inch thick. Pork can quickly become tough, and thin chops give you even less room for error when cooking. For the best cuts of meat, visit a specialty butcher. 

• Temperature

Whenever possible, allow the chops to come to room temperature before cooking. If your pork is too chilled, it will cook unevenly. The outside will cook much faster than the inside, resulting in a tough, chewy crust. Ideally, bring the chops out of the fridge thirty minutes before you plan on cooking them. 

• Seasoning

Pork has an exceptionally mild flavor, which means it can be bland without proper seasoning. The subtle flavor of pork means you can experiment with all kinds of herb and spice combinations, but be sure to adequately season with at least salt and pepper. 

• Timing

Until the 1990s, the recommended internal temperature for pork was 160 degrees fahrenheit or higher. This was due to the possibility of infection from a parasite (Trichinella spirosis) that has since been eradicated in the United States. The USDA updated its recommended temperature for pork to 145 degrees fahrenheit. In other words, don’t be afraid to go for medium-cooked pork! It is perfectly safe and much more tender.

• Resting

Resting meat is more often associated with beef, but it is just as important for pork. Pork chops need only a few minutes of resting, but it is well worth it. This time allows the juices to return to the center of the meat instead of spilling out onto your plate when cutting into it. 

Easy Baked Pork Chops With Honey Garlic Glaze

Ingredients:

• 4 pork chops at least 1-inch thick (bone-in or boneless)
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tsp brown mustard
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.

1. Trim any excess fat from your chops and allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes. 
2. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Meanwhile, mix your honey, brown mustard, garlic powder, thyme, rosemary, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a small bowl. 
3. Pat your chops dry with a paper towel and season liberally with salt and pepper. Add the other tablespoon of olive oil to the preheated skillet and sear chops to a golden brown on each side (1-2 minutes per side). 
4. Transfer browned chops to an oven-safe dish and coat with ⅔ of the honey mixture. Bake uncovered for an additional 12-15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees (bone-in chops will take a little longer than boneless). 
5. Tent the chops with foil and allow them to rest for three minutes. Drizzle the chops with the remainder of your honey glaze and garnish with fresh rosemary before serving.  

Visit Texas de Brazil for Traditional Churrasco-Style Recipes

Texas de Brazil has more than 50 locations across the United States and internationally. Enjoy perfectly prepared, flame-grilled meats and decadent side dishes. For a taste of Brazil at home, visit our brand-new online butcher shop for the best cuts of meat delivered right to your door. 

How to Be Polite in Brazil

If you are planning on visiting Brazil, you may find it useful to brush up on your Portuguese or research local customs. Don’t forget to include physical gestures and greetings in your research, or you may find yourself in an unintentionally tense situation. Certain gestures are considered extremely rude, while others (like a kiss on the cheek) are part of customary greetings. The following are quick tips on how to be polite in Brazil.

The Kiss as a Greeting 

Not only do Brazilians kiss as a way of saying, “hello,” they do it in a very specific way. The number of kisses and where they are placed can change depending on where you are in the country.

If you are unsure of how many kisses to give, a single kiss with the right cheek touching the other person’s is a good place to start. This is the greeting most common in Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais.

In Rio, two kisses are customary. In Bahia, expect to receive three or more kisses! 

While this may seem overly familiar to Americans, do not refuse a kiss as a greeting. It is a platonic gesture that is a universal custom. Touching of the arms and back is also commonplace and it is considered rude to recoil or back away.

Symbolic Gestures and Sounds in Brazil

Brazilians use a thumbs up and thumbs down to convey approval or disapproval, respectively. Avoid using the American “okay” sign, which makes an “o” shape with index and thumb touching. This is a rude symbol in Brazil that translates roughly to extending your middle finger in the us.

A clicking of the tongue while shaking one’s head can also signify disappointment in Brazil. 

Accepting an Invitation in Brazil

If you have been invited to dinner or a party, dress to impress! Not only is it a sign of respect to dress up, you will find yourself embarrassingly underdressed if you do not make the extra effort. Brazilians dress up in stylish attire for all occasions, and it is considered impolite to be too casual.

Keep in mind that time is more relaxed in Brazil. There is often no strict start time or end time to an event. Even if there is an established meeting time, you may find your Brazilian friends are more than a few minutes late. 

Rules for Eating in Brazil

Brazilians tend not to eat food with their hands. This means using a fork and knife, even for foods such as fruit. In the case of street food, it is acceptable to hold the food with a napkin while eating, but never with bare hands. 

To signal a server in a restaurant, you can raise one index finger. Do your best to eat all the food on your plate to show you enjoyed it. 

Final Suggestions to Remain Polite in Brazil

If you are staying in Brazil, consider adopting these additional rules of general etiquette:

• Do not blow your nose in public
• Do not touch food with your hands
• Brush your teeth after lunch if you do not already do so
• Do not inquire about income
• Do not ask someone their age
• Do not leave without saying “good-bye”
• Do not discuss politics, religion, or economic status
• Do not refer to Brazilians as “Latin Americans”
• Avoid swearing
• Expect to be educated on the subject of soccer, or “football”
• Do not be visibly bothered if someone is late

Get a Taste of Brazil at Home

You can enjoy Brazil’s famous hospitality and cuisine in one of our 50+ restaurants, or try your hand at preparing picanha at home with our specialty meats delivered right to your door. Visit our butcher shop to find out more. 

Passion Fruit Mousse Recipe (Mousse de Maracujá)

Passion fruit is a staple of Brazilian cuisine, where it is featured in everything from cocktails to popsicles. The fruit is derived from a species of passion flower, Passiflora edulis, a perennial vine native to South America. This dish as a dessert will create smiles around the dinner table. Download the Passion fruit mousse recipe below, you’ll want to after you taste it!

Passion fruit has a unique flavor, reminiscent of guava and kiwi. It is sweet and tart, making it a refreshing addition to dessert dishes and beverages. In Brazil, one of the most delicious dishes made with passion fruit is a simple mousse called mousse de maracujá.  

Mousse de maracujá is a national favorite in Brazil. It is as ubiquitous in restaurants and bakeries as chocolate cake is in America. Its velvety texture and unique flavor make a stylish end to any meal, and its simplicity makes it a favorite for cooks in a hurry.

This mousse requires just a handful of ingredients and can be made up to two days ahead for a worry-free dessert. Serve with whipped cream or a drizzle of sweetened coconut cream. 

Passion Fruit Mousse Recipe (Mousse de Maracujá)

Servings: about 4

Ingredients:

8 oz passion fruit juice* (unsweetened)

14 oz sweetened condensed milk (1 can)

9 oz heavy whipping cream

2 tsp unflavored gelatin

3 tablespoons water

*You can use passion fruit pulp or concentrate for this recipe as well. For fresh pulp, add 3 tablespoons of water and blend in a blender. Strain out any seeds. For juice concentrate, add 7 oz of water (1:1 ratio) and blend. 

Directions:

• Step 1: sprinkle the gelatin over your water in a heat proof bowl. Let hydrate for five minutes, or according to packet instructions.
• Step 2: microwave gelatin for 20-30 seconds on high, or until it is dissolved.
• Step 3: add your juice, condensed milk, and whipping cream to a blender. Blend on high for about 45 seconds, until everything is smooth and combined. 
• Step 4: add the dissolved gelatin to the mixture and blend for 3 minutes.
• Step 5: pour your mixture into serving containers. Refrigerate for at least three hours, or until set. 

Enjoy!