Harissa Pork Chops Baked in the Oven

Harissa pork chops with honey, dried mint and sumac are an easy and delicious centrepiece to a meal that gets quickly roasted in the oven.

Cooking time for this dish is 15-20 minutes, and it takes moments to mix the glaze, bolt on a few minutes to rest the pork, and you are done!

Baked Pork Chops with Tunisian Flavours

There are many folk queueing up to tell you that there is only one best way to cook anything. Well, I'm not that sort of cook, the answer to the best way to cook pork chops is YES!

I have a host of pork chop recipes here on Krumpli. Everything from sweet and sour pork chops and Creamy Normandy pork chops through to Pork Chops cooked in the Instant Pot, slow cooker pork chops and stuffed pork chops.

This one falls into the latter category, and it has a jaw-dropping harissa-based glaze.

There are significant communities around the world that do not eat pork for cultural or religious reasons.

As a result, some flavour combinations that are stunning are rarely seen.

Harissa pork chops are one of those combinations it has Tunisian/Moroccan influences.

Perfectly cooked juicy chops combined with the fragrant flavours and heat from rose harissa paste are glorious.

I love harissa paste; it features in a similar way in my harissa lamb chops and harissa chicken thighs recipes.

Add a little honey, dried mint and sumac, and you have a wonderful flavour sensation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need thick-cut pork chops?

Yes, when I talk to people about pork chops, one of the reasons many give for not buying them is that they are often dry.

This can often be the case when they are roasted in the oven because people are roasting teenie tiny thin pork chops!

You need something around 2-3cm (1") thick; they will weigh around 300g with the bone in. Yes, that is a lot of meat, and yes, it is a treat!

Is it better to cook these in the oven or in the air fryer?

I personally think that an air fryer gives marginally better results, although there is not a lot in it. However, in terms of efficiency and speed, the air fryer wins hands down!

What is rose harissa?

It is, as the name suggests, harissa with the addition of roses, and they add wonderfully subtle floral notes.

I use Belazu brand, but if you want to use regular harissa, feel free, it will still be delicious!

What is sumac?

Sumac is a spice made from the crushed berry of a shrub; it has a wonderful flavour with sour overtones. It can be used as both a seasoning, as I do here or as an ingredient.

Don't worry about having lots left, I use it all the time in dishes as diverse as my roasted carrot soup to my Moroccan lamb tagine!

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve these harissa pork chops with a tabbouleh salad, which is a gloriously herby bulgur wheat salad.

But it would also be great alongside couscous like my roasted vegetable couscous, buttered couscous or my giant couscous salad.

You could even serve it with my vegetable tagine or freekeh salad to create a rounded meal.

If you wanted to go lighter, then this chickpea salad would work a treat.

Equipment Used

I only recommend specific brands of equipment if I think they may make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

• Oven, I have also given instructions to cook these in an air fryer. I have a Phillips XXL air fryer for reference.
• Baking tray.
• Mixing bowl.
• Measuring spoons.
• Kitchen foil.
• Quick-read meat thermometer, optional but highly recommended.