Irish Whiskey-Honey Pork Chops with Champ Mash and Carrots
recipe from Donal Skehan for the Today Show
Ingredients:
PORK CHOPS
- 3 tablespoons Irish whiskey
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil
- 4 pork loin chops, cut 1/2-inch thick, bone in, scored
CHAMP MASH
- 1¾ pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 3/4 stick butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 6 scallions, finely sliced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
CARROTS
- 1 lb. carrots, cut into 1/2-inch diagonal slices
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 small handful parsley
Directions:
PORK CHOPS
- Whisk together the whiskey, honey, mustard, apple juice and oil in a flat, high-sided dish. Add the pork chops to the dish and turn until coated and submerged. Cover and place in the fridge to marinade for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Once the pork chops are ready to cook, remove from the fridge and allow to come to room temp.
- Heat a griddle pan over a medium-high heat.
- Remove the pork to a plate lined with kitchen paper and pat dry before transferring the marinade to a small saucepan.
- Simmer the marinade over a medium heat until sticky and slightly thickened.
- Place the pork on the griddle pan and cook for 3 minutes on both sides, until it has deep char marks and is cooked all the way through.
CHAMP MASH
- Add the potato chunks to a pot of cold water, cover, place over a high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the potato is tender when pierced with a fork.
- When the potatoes are cooked, remove from the heat, drain into a colander, then add back into the pot with the butter and milk. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy.
- Add in the spring onions and season with sea salt and ground black pepper, stirring to combine.
CARROTS
- Add the carrots, half of the butter, water and sugar to a heavy-based pan, along with seasoning.
- Place a lid on top and bring to a steady boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes, until the carrots are fork-tender. The liquid should be almost all used up at this point; if not, cook more and if the carrots aren’t quite tender, don’t be afraid to add another splash of water.
- Add the remaining butter and parsley, tossing until the butter is melted and all the carrots are coated.
TO SERVE: Serve the pork slathered in the sticky honey and whiskey sauce alongside the carrots and champ mash. Makes 4 servings.
For more delicious Irish recipes from our archives…
- Eat Like You’re Irish (Bangers & Mash, Mushy Peas)
- Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, Parsley Sauce
- Seasonal Spring Soup (Potato Leek)
- Comforting Dublin Coddle (Sausage Potato Casserole)
- Traditionally Irish (Colcannon)
- The Luck O’ the Irish (Irish Stew)
- Irish Inspiration (Cabbage Wrap Brats)
- Healthy St. Patrick’s Day (Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie)