Chops
Monroe County Pork Steaks with Spicy Vinegar Dip
The best regional barbecue you’ve never heard of—it comes from Monroe County, Kentucky. These pork shoulder steaks are grilled over a hickory fire and basted with a spicy vinegar dip.
More Pork Recipes:
Monroe County Pork Steaks with Spicy Vinegar Dip
Recipe Notes
- Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients
For the Monroe County Vinegar Dip:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cups distilled white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt (sea or kosher)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot)
For the pork:
- 2 pounds pork shoulder steaks (blade steaks) or thin-cut pork chops
- Coarse salt (sea or kosher) and cracked or coarsely ground black peppercorns
Recipe Steps
Step 1: Make the Vinegar Dip: Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the vinegar, pepper, sugar, cayenne, salt, and hot sauce. Reduce the heat and gently simmer for 3 minutes, whisking to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove the dip from the heat and let cool slightly.
Step 2: Generously season the pork steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Keep the Vinegar Dip warm in a saucepan.
Step 3: Set up a grill for direct grilling and preheat to high. Brush and oil the grill grate.
Step 4: Arrange the pork steaks on the grate and grill until sizzling, browned, and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Start basting or mopping the steaks with Vinegar Dip once you turn the meat. When the pork steaks are cooked, hold them one-at-a-time with tongs and plunge them into the Vinegar Dip, turning to coat both sides. Gluttons for punishment can dip twice, spooning a little extra dip on top before serving.
Recipe Tips
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