Ranch Pork Loin with Caramelized Onions

Although there are many Ranch pork recipes on the Internet, I put this together a little differently from most of them.  I put the seasoning on the meat surfaces, as most do, but then added a crunchy topping with even more seasoning.  The onion sauce was quite nice with these tender “chops” as well.   You can certainly use pork chops with bone-in rather than pork loin for this recipe, but boneless loin was what my husband brought home from the grocery store today.  This recipe is suitable for all phases of Atkins and Keto plans if the numbers fit your daily carb limits.

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INGREDIENTS:

3  4-oz. pieces boneless pork loin

1 tsp. my Ranch Dressing Powder Blend

2 T. unsalted butter

3 oz. sliced yellow onion

2  Cheese Puffs (or 1/4 c. crumbs from any leftover low-carb biscuit or bread)

½ c. chicken stock (preferably homemade)

½ c. heavy cream

½ c. water (or white wine if you are past Atkins Induction Phase)

1/8 tsp. xanthan gum (only if needed to thicken to your desired level)

VARIATION:   In lieu of pork loin, use butterflied, boneless chicken breasts. 

DIRECTIONS:   Preheat oven to 350º.  Pound the 3 pieces of pork loin with a meat tenderizer on both sides.  Using only 1/2 tsp. of the Ranch seasoning, sprinkle over all sides of the meat.  In a hot skillet, melt the butter and add the meat, searing on both sides until golden.  Remove from the pan to a plate.  Add the sliced onions to the pan and saute until they caramelize.  Add the stock, cream and water and set the chops gently on top of the onion-liquid mixture.  Rubbing between your hands or in a food processor, crumble the cheese puffs or bread adding the remaining Ranch seasoning.  Sprinkle 1/3 of the seasoned crumbs on top of the meat portions.  Gently set the pan in a hot 350º oven to finish cooking for about 40 minutes or until the crumb mixture is golden brown.  Remove from oven.  Thicken the onion sauce with a couple light dustings of xanthan gum (only if you feel it is not thick enough already).  Serve at once with your favorite side or salad.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:    Makes 3 servings, each one contains:

427 calories, 32.3 g fat, 5.83 g carbs, 1.36 g fiber, 4.47 g NET CARBS, 28.5 g protein, 471 mg sodium