Pork Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce and Jasmine Rice by Nikki

Ingredients

• Rice:
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup white jasmine rice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Pork Chops:
• 4 (1/2-inch thick) pork chops
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon Creole seasoning, or to taste
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• ½ small onion, sliced
• Cream Sauce:
• ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon ground paprika, or to taste

Step 1

Bring water, rice, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan. Once it’s boiling, turn the heat down to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. When it’s done, take it off the heat and stir in a tablespoon of butter to make it nice and fluffy.

Step 2

While the rice cooks, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). If you’re using a countertop induction oven, set it to the "Combo 1" setting. Place the pork chops in a 9-inch baking dish or a grill pan if that’s what you have. Drizzle them with olive oil, then sprinkle both sides with Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper. Scatter the sliced green bell peppers and onions around and on top of the chops.

Step 3

Pop the pan in the oven and bake until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). This usually takes about 20 minutes in a regular oven, or 10 to 15 minutes with the induction oven. Once done, cover the pan loosely with foil to keep everything warm.

Step 4

While the pork is resting, melt a quarter cup of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and chopped onions, cooking until the onions become translucent, about 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in the half-and-half, then stir in the flour bit by bit, cooking until the sauce thickens, which should take another 5 minutes or so.

Step 5

Pour the creamy mushroom sauce over the pork chops, giving the pan a little stir to mix in the flavorful juices. Return everything to the oven for just a few minutes—3 to 5 should do—to let the flavors meld together.

Step 6

Serve the pork chops and mushroom sauce over the fluffy jasmine rice, and finish with a sprinkle of paprika for a little extra color and warmth.