German Grilled Pork Chops (Authentic Schwenkbraten)
This grilled pork chop recipe is addicting! The dry-rub marinated pork is a specialty from Germany’s Saarland region, where my dad lives. It’s the number one thing to hit the grill there during summertime.
Servings: 4 Schwenker
Calories: 236kcal
Equipment
- Mortar and Pestle
- Tripod with Adjustable Grill
- Fire pit
- Veggie Grill Tray
- grilling tool set
Ingredients
- 4 thick-cut pork chops boneless or bone-in
- 2 onions cut into rings
- salt pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, stems removed
- ½ Tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 dried bay leaves dried and crumbled
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 8 juniper berries crushed with the flat side of a large kitchen knife
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Rub plenty of salt onto the pork. Mix together the remaining spices and garlic. Rub dry-rub marinade into both sides of the meat.2 onions, salt pepper, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ Tablespoon dried oregano, 2 garlic cloves, 2 dried bay leaves, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, 8 juniper berries, ½ teaspoon ground allspice, 4 thick-cut pork chops
- In a large bowl or in a gallon-sized freezer bag, alternate between the onion slices and spiced, raw pork, finishing with the onion slices. Cover and allow to marinade in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours, or up to 3 days.
- Cook the meat on a charcoal or a wood-burning grill (traditionally a swinging grill called a Schwenkgrill or Schwenker) until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit (about 20 minutes for a thick-cut meat).
- Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with rustic slices of bread (baguette is great!), potato salad (choose between Bavarian style or my grandma’s creamy style here), and either a cool glass of beer or a crisp rosé.
Notes
No Schwenkgrill or Schwenker? It's the special swinging grill used to cook this meat (and all sorts of other grilled goods!). Then of course you
Nutrition
Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 27IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg