Savory Havarti-Stuffed Pork Chops

Savory Havarti-Stuffed Pork Chops. Havarti cheese is mild and creamy with a rich, buttery and slightly tangy taste. It’s delicious paired with a crisp white wine or Riesling.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 6 bacon strips, chopped
• 1 (5 ounce) bag fresh baby spinach (about 5 cups)
• Salt and pepper
• 6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) Carr Valley Havarti cheese, shredded
• 4 (6 to 8 ounce) bone-in thick-cut pork chops
• 1/2 cup pesto

Instructions

1. Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings.
2. Sauté spinach in bacon drippings in the same skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until wilted. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat. Cool completely.
3. Stir in havarti and bacon.
4. Grease grill grate. Heat grill to medium-high.
5. Cut a pocket in each pork chop with a sharp knife horizontally to within a 1/4 inch of the bone. Season with salt and pepper. Stuff each pork chop with spinach mixture; secure with wooden picks.
6. Grill pork chops, covered, over medium-high heat for 8 minutes.
7. Brush pork chops with pesto. Flip pork chops, brushing with pesto on both sides. Grill, covered, for 7-8 minutes longer or until a thermometer inserted in meat reads 145 degrees F.
8. Transfer pork chops to a serving platter. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove wooden picks before serving.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin