Grilling out this time of year is simply a must. This week, we decided to grill some pork chops on the trusty Weber grill, but to then give them a classic Italian flare. The grilled pork chops are placed on a serving platter with pesto sauce and all of the ingredients of a traditional Italian caprese salad: ripe tomatoes, fresh basil from the garden, creamy fresh mozzarella cheese, and a tangy balsamic and olive oil drizzle. Each bit of tender grilled pork is made even more decadent with the taste of the basil pesto sauce and the colorful tomato salad.
(To view this recipe, click on the blue title of the blog post above*)
Caprese Grilled Pork with Pesto
Ingredients:
- (4) boneless pork chops, about 1-inch thick (preferably organic)
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup homemade or store-bought basil pesto sauce
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 4 rounds
- 1 cup ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chiffonade
- 2 Tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Directions:
- Fire up your grill over high heat; season the pork chops with a pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle each with a teaspoon of olive oil. Grill the chops over direct heat (about 4-6 inches from the heat source)–flipping once—for 8-10 minutes per side, or until the chops register 145 degrees internally. Remove the pork chops from the grill and cover the cooked chops with foil to keep them warm.
- In the meantime, spread the pesto sauce on the surface of the serving plate. Toss the halved cherry tomatoes together with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, a grinding of pepper, 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and 2 Tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.
- Arrange the pork and slices of cheese on the pesto-covered plate. Toss the balsamic tomatoes on top of the pork and cheese; sprinkle with the fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Tagged: balsamic vinegar, caprese, caprese grilled pork, caprese pork, caprese salad, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella cheese, grilled pork, Italian, mozzarella, pesto, pesto sauce, pork, pork chops, tomatoes
This looks amazing!
Thanks Leanne. Easy and full of flavor!