Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Fried Pork Chop Vegetable Soup










Ingredients
For vegetable soup:
3 tablespoons butter
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon tomato paste
32 ounces vegetable broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 large white potato, cubed
1/2 (10-ounce) box frozen corn
1/2 (10-ounce) box frozen peas
5 ounces fresh green beans, cut into bite size pieces
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves

For the pork chops:
Peanut oil, to fry
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 (1-inch thick) bone-in center cut pork chops

Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter and saute carrots, celery and onion until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the flour to the vegetables and blend well. Cook the flour until it achieves a slight blonde color. Next, stir in the tomato paste and allow to slightly cook, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in vegetable broth while stirring and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat and add the can of diced tomatoes and the potatoes. Simmer until potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the peanut oil in an electric fryer or large pan fitted with deep-fry thermometer to 325 degrees F. In a large casserole dish, mix together flour, and season with salt and pepper. Dredge chops in flour mixture, patting excess off. Place chops, 2 at time, in fryer and cook until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Cool slightly and remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray.
Add the cooked chops to soup and simmer another 30 minutes, or until the meat falls off the bone. During the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the corn, peas, and green beans. Ladle soup into individual bowls, top with a pork chop and sprinkle with parsley.