Maple-Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops with Thyme Poached Quince

Pork Chops

8 boneless pork chops, 1/2-inch thick, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon Mission EVOO
3 tablespoons finely sliced shallots
1/3 cup Maple Balsamic

Thyme Poached Quince
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup Cara Cara Orange Vanilla White Balsamic
1 – 3″ sprig fresh thyme
1 ripe quince (about 10 oz), peeled, quartered, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (apples can be substituted by reducing the poaching time to 20 minutes)

Instructions 

Thyme Poached Quince
Bring water, balsamic to a simmer in a 2- to 2 1/2-quart saucepan. Add the quince and sprig of thyme.  Simmer, gently stirring once or twice, until quince is tender, about 35 minutes. Discard the thyme sprig, drain quince in a sieve set over a bowl and reserve for pan sauce.

Pork Chops
Pat pork chops dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. In nonstick 12 inch skillet, heat the Mission EVOO over med-high heat. Cook chops 4 minutes one side, turn over and cook 3 minutes the other side. Transfer to platter and keep warm. Increase heat to high. Stir shallot into pan juices; cook 2 minutes. Stir in the balsamic and cook down for an additional 2 minutes. Add the strained poached quince to the pan and stir to combine. Adjust seasoning with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

To serve, ladle the pan sauce and quinces over the pork chops.

Serves 4