Paula Johns's Recipe

Grilled Veal or Pork Chops with Marsala Fig Sauce, Lemon-Ricotta Orzo, Celery and Mushroom Salad

Category: Entrees

Recipe Courtesy Rachel Ray 2007

Prep Time: 20 min; Cook time 28; Serves 4

Ingredients

Salt
1/2 lb orzo
4 (1 1/2-inch thick) bone-in veal or pork chops
6 tsp grill seasoning
2 tsp fennel seeds
2 tsp ground coriander
16 dried figs, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup marsala wine
4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
coarsely ground black pepper
6 tbl extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 heart celery, thinly sliced on an angle, 3 to 4 cups
4 large portabella mushroom caps, thinly sliced
1 cup flat leaf parsley leaves
1 1/2 ricotta cheese
2 lemons, zest and juice divided
Parmigianino Reggiano, for shaving
1 box frozen peas
A handful of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

Directions

Heat the water to a boil for pasta. Season the water with salt and cook pasta to al dente. Heads up: you will need to add 1 box of peas the last minute of cooking time to the water.
Pat chops dry. Mix the grill seasoning, seeds and coriander and rub the mixture into the chops.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a small pot over medium low heat combine the figs, Marsala and thyme. Season with some black pepper and gently reduce 15 minutes.
Heat about 2 tbl of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil smokes, sear chops 2 minutes on each side and transfer to oven for 10 minutes.

Slice the celery and mushrooms and combine with parsley.
In a pasta bowl, combine the zest of 2 lemons with ricotta cheese, salt and pepper.
Dress the celery and mushrooms with the juice of 2 lemons and 1/4 cup oil, season with salt and pepper and top with lots of shaved Parmesan.

Add peas to orzo, cook 1 minute. Drain the orzo and peas an add to the lemon ricotta. Toss to combine and adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Serve chops with figs on top and ricotta orzo and celery and mushroom salad along side.