HERB CRUSTED PORK LOIN RECIPES

Steps:

• Brine the pork: Combine 4 cups water, the salt, sugar, garlic, bay leaves, juniper berries, peppercorns and cloves in a large pot or wide Dutch oven (large enough to hold the pork). Heat over medium heat, stirring, until the salt and sugar dissolve. Add 8 cups ice cubes; stir occasionally until the brine is cooled.
• Make small deep cuts, about 2 inches apart, all over the pork and between the ribs using the tip of a paring knife. Add the pork to the pot and submerge in the brine; add more cold water if needed to completely submerge. Refrigerate overnight.
• Set a rack in a roasting pan and put the pan on the lowest oven rack; preheat to 325 degrees F. Remove the pork from the brine, pat dry and set aside to bring to room temperature. Remove 3 cups brine (along with the spices) to a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove the hot roasting pan from the oven and carefully stand up the pork on the rack with the chine bone down. Add the hot brine to the bottom of the pan. Roast until the fat is mostly rendered, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the crust: Pulse the panko, butter, scallion, parsley, thyme and juniper berries in a food processor until the herbs are coarsely chopped and the mixture is combined.
• Remove the pork from the oven and reposition so it is meat-side up; brush the top and sides with the mustard, then sprinkle with the panko mixture, patting to adhere. Return to the oven and roast 50 more minutes.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F and continue roasting until the crust is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 140 degrees F, about 20 more minutes. Remove from the oven, transfer to a cutting board and let rest 20 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Cut the pork loin into 4 equally-portioned pork chops. Place each chop between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until the chop is about 1-inch thick.
• Place the bread in a food processor and pulse into large breadcrumbs. Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, and pulse a few more times. Transfer the crumb mixture to a shallow bowl.
• Prepare a breading station: In a shallow bowl or plate, place the flour along with salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl, beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water, until the egg is no longer stringy, about 1 minute. Line up the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in that order.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat, and add the vegetable oil and butter. Dip the pork chops in the flour to dust lightly, shake off the excess flour, then dip in the egg and finally the crumbs. Cook the pork until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove to a paper towel-lined plate to blot the excess oil. Season the cutlets with salt, and pepper and serve with lemon wedges.