Say Goodbye To Apples This Fall: Top Your Pork Chops With This For A Flavorful Shake-Up

While fall, with its chilly air, is a great time to enjoy seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice and crisp apples, the waning days of late summer are when to take advantage of the ripe flavors of the harvest. Mouthwatering, juicy peaches are in peak season then, and as it turns out, they make a great substitute for apples when making pork chops. 

The history of pairing pork with apples is literally ancient, and while the combination is a winning one, it's fair to say that peaches with pork are a tasty and juicy seasonal twist to the classic, especially when fresh stone fruit is readily available at farmers markets and grocers alike. When paired with meaty pork chops, apples offer a sweet yet earthy flavor to the dish — a welcome combination during the cooler months of the year. But peaches, with their juiciness and dramatic combination of both sweet and tart flavors, are another ideal match for quick pan-seared pork chops. The juices from the peaches cut the fat from the pork chops while the salty, savory flavor of the chops contrasts well with the bright, sweet flavor of the fruit. There's also a great distinction between the texture of the meat and the softness of the fruit.

You can try the peaches and pork chop combination with a recipe for seared pork with peach chutney, which tops the chops with a spicy, chunky sauce. Alternatively, just use whole slices of peach sauteed in the pan as another tasty option. Bonus: The recipe uses only one skillet for both the peaches and the pork chops, making clean-up easy. There's an easy way to find the best peaches at the supermarket by gently squeezing the fruit near the stem without bruising it. Just keep in mind that slightly under-ripe stone fruit is best for cooking with pork so that it holds up to the heat of the pan, keeping its shape and texture while avoiding becoming mushy. There are simple tips to making perfectly juicy pork chops, too, like using a thicker cut of meat and marinating chops before searing them.

You can upgrade your meal even further with what you choose to serve on the side. Sauteed seasonal vegetables like zucchini and summer squash are great accompaniments, as are caramelized Brussels sprouts and corn on the cob. The peppery flavor of an arugula salad with mouth-puckering vinaigrette is a great pair with the sweetness of the peaches, too. However you flavor your plate, serving peaches with pork chops is a way to use the best of what the season has to offer.