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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!

Rose harissa glazed roasted pork chops with bulgur wheat salad.

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 and slow cooker 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!

Overhead rose harissa glazed roasted pork chops with bulgur wheat salad.

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 qins 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!

Clos up rose harissa glazed roasted pork chops with bulgur wheat salad.

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 to create a rounded veggie meal.

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

Rose harissa glazed baked pork chops with bulgur wheat salad.

Equipment Used

I only recommend specific brands of equipment if I think they may make a material difference to a recipe. 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.
Rose harissa glazed baked pork chops with bulgur wheat salad.
Yield: 2 Servings

Roasted Harissa Pork Chops Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

These simple roast harissa pork chops pack a massive punch of flavour thanks to harissa pasta and a few other store cupboard ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 2 Thick Cut Rindless Pork Chops
  • 1 (20g) Tbsp Honey
  • 1 Tbsp Rose Harissa Paste
  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • ½ Tsp Dried Mint
  • ½ Salt
  • ¼ Tsp Sumac

Instructions

  1. Mix together the honey, harissa paste, olive oil, and dried mint.
  2. Season the pork chops generously with salt.
  3. Massage the harissa mix into the pork chops.
  4. Place the pork chops on a baking sheet and cook at 200°C (400°F) in a fan-assisted oven or 220°C (450°F) in a regular oven for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Test that the pork has reached your desired level of "done" with a meat thermometer. I remove mine a 58-59°C (135°F).
  6. Rest for 5 minutes covered with foil, the temperature should then reach 63°C (145°F).
  7. Sprinkle with sumac before serving.

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat an air fryer to 200°C or 400°F then spray the basket with some oil or release spray.
  2. Add the pork chops and cook for 10-15 minutes (depending on how you like your chops cooked), test with a meat thermometer before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 447Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 531mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gProtein: 41g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.

Did you make this recipe?

If you made this recipe, I'd love to see what you did and what I can do better, share a picture with me on Instagram and tag me @krumplibrian and tell me how it went!

Christie

Monday 13th of August 2018

I just got some harissa! I'm definitely trying this pork. It looks amazing.

Brian Jones

Thursday 16th of August 2018

Enjoy :)

Lisa

Monday 13th of August 2018

Whoa! These roasted pork chops look so mouthwatering good. Giving it a try for dinner.

Brian Jones

Thursday 16th of August 2018

Thanks Lisa

Kelly Anthony

Monday 13th of August 2018

Loving how colorful and flavorful this recipe looks. Adding it to my list of things to cook.

Brian Jones

Thursday 16th of August 2018

Thanks Kelly, have fun.

Danielle

Monday 13th of August 2018

I'm not sure why, but I've never cooked with harissa before. These sound delicious, I totally need to try it out!

Brian Jones

Thursday 16th of August 2018

You really must give it a try, it has the most wonderful flavour!

Danielle

Monday 13th of August 2018

I love anything with harissa and this looks like a great way to use it.

Brian Jones

Thursday 16th of August 2018

Thanks Danielle

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