Deep-Fried Pork Chops and Quick Vegetable Soup
Pat: This is a third-generation Neely dish. Grandma Rena used to cook it for my dad. Then she taught my momma how to prepare it. Now, you know Grandma Rena was a smart woman, showing Momma how to cook for Dad. Gina: Ladies, this is a very old Southern tactic. My suggestion, if you want to keep your man happy, is to spend some time in the kitchen with his momma and have her teach you a few things. Pat: I always listen to Gina. You should, too. My momma cooked this dish for my dad and for the kids. Kept us all happy. Now I’m cooking it for my girls (it’s one of their favorites on cold-weather days). And I’m sure someday they will cook it for their children.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4
Ingredients
Vegetable soup
Pork chops
Preparation
Step 1
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the leeks, celery, and carrots, and cook, stirring, until softened, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables, and continue to cook, stirring, until the flour reaches a light blond color. Add the tomato paste, and cook for another minute. Add the stock, and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add the diced tomatoes and the potato, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the potato is cooked through, about 20 minutes. The soup can be made up to 1 day in advance.
Step 2
While the soup is simmering, heat 2 inches of peanut oil in a large Dutch oven to 325°F. Place the flour in a large casserole dish, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the chops in the flour mixture, patting off the excess. Place the chops, two at a time, in the hot oil, and fry until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer the cooked chops to a paper towel lined baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining chops.
Step 3
Add the cooked chops to the soup and simmer over medium-low heat for another 30 minutes, or until the meat from the chops falls off the bone. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the lima beans, peas, corn, and green beans. To serve, ladle the soup into wide, shallow bowls, and garnish with the parsley.
