• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Γ—

    Home Β» Entrees Β» Pomegranate-Ginger Pork Chops

    Nov 16, 2010 Β· Modified: Nov 3, 2017 by Sues Β· This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads Β· View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer Β· 42 Comments

    Pomegranate-Ginger Pork Chops

    If I didn't like cupcakes and cheese so much, there are two things I could live on. The first, you all know, is ginger. And the second is pomegranate. Admittedly, it would be a strange diet. But one full of antioxidants. And while I might be seriously lacking protein, I'd be happy (especially if much of that ginger was candied ginger... I guess it might be odd to eat it all raw).

    Pomegranates remind me of my dad because I swear he started eating them long before they got trendy. Also, I grew up listening to him recite, "The hardest fruit upon this planet/Is easily the pomegranate" from Ogden Nash (In case you're wondering, he's also the poet who came up with "Candy is dandy/But liquor is quicker"). Behold the lovely pomegranate:

    IMG_0824

    I don't even recall how I stumbled upon this recipe; all I know is when I saw the words pomegranate and ginger, I knew it was a go. Of course, I changed it up a little and the result was mind-blowinly flavorful and awesome. I would make this over and over and over again.

    Pomegranate-Ginger Pork Chops (serves 3):

    • 4 oz. POM Wonderful Juice
    • Β½ C sugar
    • 1 T cornstarch
    • 1 t red pepper flakes
    • 3 T light soy sauce
    • 3 t ginger, minced
    • 3 t garlic (3 cloves), minced
    • 1 lb. boneless pork chop
    • 1 whole fresh pomegranate, opened with seeds removed

    IMG_0810

    Every time I make pork, I claim I never make pork. But I guess that's false. Last time, I had a whole conversation with Pork on Twitter. Because that's where we're at in 2010.

    The original recipe called for pork tenderloin, but I used boneless pork chops instead. You can use whatever meat you want. Honestly, this would be good with chicken and would probably be amazing on some sort of beef. It's also quite easy and basically consists of two simple sauces and the meat. It's great for a quick but high-quality weeknight meal.

    To begin, in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, mix together the pomegranate juice, sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Simmer over medium heat until a thick syrup forms.

    IMG_0820

    Set the syrup aside.

    IMG_0830

    In a little bowl, mix together the soy sauce, ginger, and garlic and set aside.

    IMG_0839

    At this point, you might want to open your pomegranate if you haven't already. Here's a guide for what I think is the best way to open in. Some day maybe I should make a video.

    I just think pomegranates are the prettiest fruits in the world. Especially when the juice isn't sprayed all over your clothes. And face.

    IMG_0827

    So, yes, always open the pomegranate in a bowl of water... in the sink. Unless you've been wanting red walls. And what a pretty red it is.

    IMG_0836

    OK. Now, add some olive oil into your frying pan and put your pork chops into the pan.

    IMG_0842

    Spoon some of the soy-garlic-ginger mixture on top and cook for about four minutes. Then flip them, add some more sauce on and cook for another four minutes.

    IMG_0849

    Remove the pork chops from the pan. Turn off the heat and add the syrup mixture in. Stir for a couple minutes to thicken and scrape up any pork bits.

    IMG_0851

    Spoon the syrup over the pork chops.

    IMG_0853

    And sprinkle some pomegranate on top.

    IMG_0850

    Like so:

    IMG_0875

    I served my pork chops with mashed maple sweet potatoes and aspiration. Never heard of aspiration before? I hadn't either. I actually went to Whole Foods to pick up some asparagus. But then I saw what I thought was broccolini. Even better! But when I picked it up, I read that it was "aspiration." Which I guess is some sort of broccoli-asparagus hybrid.

    It was delicious, but I wish it were called asparagini or something. Aspiration just sounds like a horrible way to die.

    IMG_0892

    But this was most definitely one of the most flavorful ways I've ever prepared pork. Not one, but two totally complementary sauces! The soy-garlic-ginger sauce added an incredible rich, deep flavor. While the pomegranate syrup added a sweet touch. Plus a delightful crunch!

    IMG_0862

    Quick, delicious, and I think kind of impressive. I mean, I'd definitely serve this to guests. All you'd have to do is double up the amount you make and it would be super easy to make this for a crowd.

    IMG_0896

    Another meal, another confirmation that pork really isn't boring. And I really do enjoy it. Go figure. Also, some more confirmation I could live on pomegranate and ginger... If a little meat were involved. And maybe some cupcakes. Speaking of, can you imagine a pomegranate-ginger cupcake? Looks like I know what my next cupcake flavor is!

    Oh, and in other news, happy birthday to Chris! My favorite person and always willing recipe tester-- even when I try to force things like beets, peas, and cauliflower upon him. Today will be beet, pea, and cauliflower free just for him πŸ™‚

    Are you a fan of pomegranates? What do you like to make with them?

    [Sues]

    Tweet
    Share
    Pin7
    Yum
    Share
    7 Shares
    « Tartine's Deluxe Double-Chocolate Cookies
    Whole Grain Garlic Knots with Parsley and Olive Oil »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erica says

      November 16, 2010 at 10:58 am

      Fabulous meal- very fancy πŸ™‚ The mashed sweet potatoes look out of this world! I think I've said this before, but I've never made pork chops. The sauce on the chops looks awesome. I do look pomegranates. I usually use the juice in sauces (especially good on pancakes)

    2. Meesh says

      November 16, 2010 at 11:02 am

      beautiful and creative. love it.

    3. Monique says

      November 16, 2010 at 11:44 am

      i think i love the fact that this is a simple recipe and it looks fancy! wait, i dont think- i know.
      its gorgeous. and it looks fab!

    4. sarah k. @ the pajama chef says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:24 pm

      oh goodness. i must make this. i love pomegranates but have never made anything with them... just eaten them alone. yum!

    5. Tania says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:25 pm

      Pomegranates are the new bacon! At least that's what my latest issue of Cooking Light says. I'm not actually very adept at cooking with them though... this would be a great way for me to start! (And thanks for the tutorial... I would have had red walls...)

    6. Jenn from Much to My Delight says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:32 pm

      Your dinner looks like the color wheel! What a lovely combination of flavors and colors. And I agree with you--aspiration is kind of a terrible name for a vegetable, unless of course you're aspiring to good health, in which case, it's actually sort of an inspiring little moniker.

    7. Victoria says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:49 pm

      I feel the same way, "I never make pork" but I guess when you make it as good as this, it's the quality and not the quanitity that matters, right πŸ™‚ Delicious!

    8. Megan Valente says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:56 pm

      This looks delicious! I just bought my first ever pomegranate yesterday, and now I know what I'm going to do with it. I think I'm going to try this recipe with tofu - I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sharing!

    9. Chef Bee says

      November 16, 2010 at 12:59 pm

      Pomegranates are everywhere! Don't they just look beautiful? This dish sounds wonderful. I love pork with fruit.

      Plan B

    10. sweetersalt says

      November 16, 2010 at 1:18 pm

      This looks so tasty! I may need to add this to the "to make" list!

      Laura

    11. erica @ fashionmeetsfood says

      November 16, 2010 at 1:19 pm

      What a fabulous meal. Everything looks beyond amazing!!!

      xo

    12. Jenna says

      November 16, 2010 at 1:46 pm

      This looks awesome! And removing the seeds from the pomegranate under water is brilliant--I definitely got sprayed some when de-seeding a pomegranate for a wild rice dish a few years ago.

    13. Nicole says

      November 16, 2010 at 2:55 pm

      Love how pretty it looks!

    14. Judy says

      November 16, 2010 at 3:15 pm

      Great flavors for pork chops! Thanks for sharing.

    15. Pam says

      November 16, 2010 at 3:40 pm

      What a lovely dish. I just happen to have a pomegranate in my fruit bowl waiting to be used.

    16. Yum Yucky says

      November 16, 2010 at 3:49 pm

      pork chops and arils!!!! holy pomegranate, you just made my day.

    17. Velva says

      November 16, 2010 at 3:58 pm

      I have not thought about the flavor combination of pomegranate and ginger but, it sounds like a delicious pairing of flavors. Pork is the perfect meat to enjoy this flavor combination too.

    18. Kelly says

      November 16, 2010 at 5:34 pm

      Could it be fate that I JUST picked up a pomegranate on sale at the grocery store yesterday?

    19. Elina (Russian Bites) says

      November 16, 2010 at 6:07 pm

      Susie - this looks so good! I actually randomly bought a pomegranate last week at the grocery store and still haven't consumed it. I know what my next project will be πŸ˜‰
      Haha, you were cracking me up on that "aspiration just sounds like a bad way to die"... i was totally thinking it sounds like medicine!

    20. Simply Life says

      November 16, 2010 at 6:11 pm

      oh I love the idea of using the pomegranates for this - looks great!

    21. Chris says

      November 16, 2010 at 6:17 pm

      Delicious. The pictures look great as well.

    22. Kelly says

      November 16, 2010 at 6:32 pm

      How gorgeous does that look! I especially love the pictures of the crossections of the pomegranate.

    23. peachkins says

      November 16, 2010 at 7:08 pm

      I haven't tried pomegrenate and porkchops... it looks really delicious.

    24. Shannon says

      November 16, 2010 at 7:12 pm

      happy birthday to chris! and what a great way to eat pork chops πŸ™‚

    25. Kelly says

      November 16, 2010 at 7:56 pm

      Speaking of liquor is quicker, my favorite pomegranate thing right now is this awesome drink at a Japanese restaurant, the pomegranate saketini πŸ™‚ yum!

    26. Susan says

      November 16, 2010 at 11:56 pm

      I've been on a pork chop kick lately so I really want to try this! Your photos are delicious.

    27. A.Judy says

      November 17, 2010 at 12:33 am

      It's still the 16th, so "Happy Birthday" CHRIS!!!................hope it was a good one!

    28. Savvy says

      November 17, 2010 at 8:59 am

      I'm not a big pork fan, but I LOVE pomegranates and your sauce sounds delicious!! I am going to try making a pomegranate dressed salad <3 mm. Just found your blog and I'm a big fan πŸ˜€

    29. megabrooke says

      November 17, 2010 at 10:41 am

      mmmm sounds great! i'm making this tonight!

    30. cupcake says

      November 17, 2010 at 12:09 pm

      Sounds like a healthy meal! Yes, love pomegranates.
      cupcake
      www,thefamily-table.blogspot.com

    31. Lori Lynn says

      November 17, 2010 at 12:16 pm

      What a great Fall dinner! Your photos are terrific, looks so mouthwatering. Aspiration..you are funny too! Broccolini is a better name. The Europeans call it "tender stem."
      LL

    32. Melissa @ Made in Melissa's Kitchen says

      November 17, 2010 at 12:24 pm

      I really need to start cooking with pomegranates! I love the flavor, but have never actually cooked with one! Definitely adding this to my list of recipes to try.

    33. Daisy says

      November 17, 2010 at 1:34 pm

      Happy Birthday (belated now) to Chris πŸ™‚

      what a great recipe. I also love pork and I prefer the boneless chops for cooking too!

    34. lynn @ the actor's diet says

      November 17, 2010 at 9:22 pm

      y'know i haven't had a pork chop in like a DECADE!

    35. Medifast Coupons says

      November 18, 2010 at 2:58 pm

      I love the sound of your recipe with the pork and pomegranate, I could really make these no problem.
      And there is an awesome video on youtube that shows how to de-seed a pomegranate so easy and it really works.

    36. rita says

      November 20, 2010 at 11:54 am

      i love pomegranates. i remember as a child, we used to have a tree in our backyard - we would ask an adult to crack the fruit open for us, then we eat it to our heart's delight!

    37. Sharlene says

      November 21, 2010 at 11:14 am

      Happy belated birthday, Chris! This looks and sounds fantastic. I've never tried to open a pomegranate on my own. I imagine it'll be quite the experience when I try out this recipe!

    38. Sinea says

      November 21, 2010 at 11:49 am

      Mmmm, looks so good. And pomegranates are so nutritious too. Finally a way to put them into a meal that my guys WILL eat!
      Thank you, ladies
      Happy Thanksgiving from Rochester NY

    39. Kerstin says

      November 23, 2010 at 12:06 am

      Such a gorgeous dish, pomegranates are so delicious! I've actually never made pork chops, hmmm, that needs to change!

    40. Nidhi says

      December 22, 2010 at 12:05 pm

      Gorgeous! I'm planning on having a pomegranate-themed dinner party in January. Can you tell me how you'd prepare this with a pork tenderloin? I'd rather not be pan-frying when guests arrive - so much easier to just take a pan out of the oven!

    41. Sues says

      December 23, 2010 at 2:11 pm

      Nidhi- I'm actually not sure... the original recipe used a pork tenderloin, but they pan-fried the medallions as well. I guess I would just coat the soy-ginger-garlic mixture onto the tenderloin and cook it in the oven as normal. Then, when you take it out and cut it, spoon the pomegranate sauce over the top. Good luck!

    42. dawn says

      October 28, 2020 at 11:12 pm

      This has become a family favorite. Turned entire clan around on pork chops. Most craved fall dinner.

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright Β© 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA