Breaded Pork Chop Pinwheels Stuffed w/ Fresh Mozzarella, Cured Italian Ham & Marinara

(Copyright © 2010 Someday Gourmet)

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 22-25 minutes
Difficulty: Level II
Yield: 5-6 Pieces

Ingredients

• 5-6 Thinly cut Pork Chops
• 8 Oz Fresh Mozzarella
• 6 Slices of Cured Italian Ham or any Italian meat
• 1 Small Jar Marinara (We enjoy Prego Traditional)
• 1 Small Pkg of Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 Cup Plain Progresso Breadcrumbs
• 1 Large Egg
• 3 Tbsp Finely Chopped Oregano
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
• 2 Tbsp EVOO

Directions


Preheat oven to 375 F.  Grease a 13x9 casserole dish and set aside.  Mix breadcrumbs, 2 tbsp oregano, and 1 tbsp garlic powder in one deep cereal bowl and whisk an egg thoroughly in another.  Remove 6-8 slices of the ham from the package and set aside.  In a small bowl mix the cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and rest of oregano and garlic powder until coated and set aside. Prepare a large sheet of wax paper or plastic wrap to cover meat while flatting.

On a large cutting board, trim and clean each piece of pork removing any fat from the edges.  Pat dry with a paper towel and lay each piece out on the cutting board with enough space between them to expand vertically.  Cover the entire board with the wax paper or plastic wrap and use a meat mallet grooved side to tenderize first, then flat side to flatten each pork chop (shoot for more rectangle piece than round).  Once the meat is 1.5-2X larger in length, discard the plastic wrap.

Add a slice or so of the ham to cover the pork.  Loosely cover the ham with small chunks of mozzarella and spread a light layer of red sauce over the filling with a spoon.  Begin at one end of the pork chop and roll the pinwheel so that the filling is trapped inside.  Dredge the pork in the egg then the breadcrumbs coating thoroughly and place seam-side down in the baking dish.  Repeat for each pork chop.
Bake at 375 F for 10 minutes then add the cherry tomatoes and continue baking for 12-15 additional minutes depending on your oven.  Serve immediately and enjoy!


Chef’s Notes

• This recipe works great with chicken breasts too.  Just start with thinly sliced or butterfly the breast yourself.
• Serve with pasta and red sauce for a true Italian feast or consider a fresh salad for a lighter option.
• I encourage you to experiment with the breading mixture but I would suggest avoiding salty seasonings if using a salty deli meat.
• Recommended Wine Pairing - Barefoot's Pinot Grigio or Pinot Noir