Name: Smoked Chops with Cherry Salsa
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 6 to 8 cherrywood, orangewood, or applewood chunks; 0.5 cup dried tart or sweet cherries, snipped; 0.5 cup chili sauce; 0.5 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel; 0.25 cup orange juice; 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion; 4 pork loin chops and/or rib chops, cut 3/4 inch thick (1 3/4 to 2 pounds total with bone); 0.125 teaspoon salt; 0.125 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 bunch Sliced green onion

Smoked Chops with Cherry Salsa

A sweet and spicy salsa made of dried sweet or tart cherries, orange peel, chili sauce and green onions lends just enough sweetness to balance the savory flavor of smoked loin or rib chops.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on September 9, 2020

Prep Time:

20 mins

Additional Time:

1 hrs 40 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs

Servings:

Yield:

4 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Low-Calorie Dairy-Free Egg Free Gluten-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

6 to 8 cherrywood, orangewood, or applewood chunks
½ cup dried tart or sweet cherries, snipped
½ cup chili sauce
½ teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
4 pork loin chops and/or rib chops, cut 3/4 inch thick (1 3/4 to 2 pounds total with bone)
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bunch Sliced green onion

Directions

For at least 1 hour before smoke-cooking, soak wood chunks in enough water to cover. Drain before using.
For salsa, in a small saucepan combine dried cherries, chili sauce, orange peel, orange juice and green onion. Bring just to boiling; remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
Trim fat from chops. Sprinkle both sides of chops with the salt and pepper.
In a smoker, arrange preheated coals, drained wood chunks, and water pan according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour water into pan. Place chops on grill rack over water pan. Cover and smoke for 40 to 45 minutes or until chops are just slightly pink and juices run clear. Remove chops to platter; cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve chops with salsa. If desired, sprinkle with additional sliced green onion.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

264	Calories
5g	Fat
21g	Carbs
31g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 264
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 21g	8%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 31g	62%
Total Fat 5g	6%
Cholesterol 94mg	31%
Sodium 542mg	24%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.