Growing up in North Central Illinois, one of the Friday night hangout spots for me and my friends was the local dirt track. We usually opted for pit passes because we knew several of the drivers.
The one item from the concession stand that was a must-have each week was the pork chop sandwich. A big, thin boneless chop that would hang off the sides of the bun, drizzled with sauce, with the option to add thinly sliced onion and pickles. They usually sold out pretty quick, so it wasn't unusual to see a line waiting for them to open the window.
I decided to recreate this favorite from my youth. It's a simple sandwich, but that's part of what made it so good.
Recreating the Dirt-Track Favorite
I deboned a thin pork chop, pounded it out, and Dusted it with PyroDust Medium. Then it went onto a cast iron griddle over hot charcoal. These thin chops cook fast. Mine took about a minute and a half to two minutes per side.
For the bun, I went with sesame seed brioche and a thin coat of spicy beer mustard. Then came the pork chop, thinly sliced white onion, red wine bread-and-butter pickles, and a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce.
Dirt Track Pork Chop Sandwich Recipe
Makes: 1 sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 thin pork chop, boneless or deboned
- PyroDust Medium BBQ Dry Rub, to taste
- 1 sesame seed brioche bun
- Spicy beer mustard, for a thin spread
- Thinly sliced white onion, to taste
- Red wine bread-and-butter pickles, to taste
- Sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, to taste
Instructions
- Remove the bone if needed, then pound the pork chop thin and fairly even.
- Dust both sides with PyroDust Medium.
- Heat a cast iron griddle over hot charcoal. Cook the chop for about 1½ to 2 minutes per side, depending on thickness and heat. Check for an internal temperature of at least 145°F, then let it rest for 3 minutes.
- Spread a thin coat of spicy beer mustard on one side of the brioche bun.
- Add the pork chop, sliced white onion, red wine bread-and-butter pickles, and a drizzle of sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. Put the top bun on and enjoy.
That chop should hang over the edge of the bun, just like I remember.
Watch the Sandwich Come Together
Watch the pork chop sandwich Short on YouTube.
Sometimes the simplest food brings back the best memories. This one takes me straight back to those Friday nights at the dirt track.
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