Pork with Plum Sauce

Step 1
Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper; cook in hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove pork chops to a plate.

Step 2
Reduce the heat to medium; cook and stir garlic in the skillet just until fragrant, 10 to 20 seconds. Pour in soy sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and cloves; bring to a boil. Stir the mixture until the brown sugar dissolves; add plums.

Step 3
Cover the skillet, reduce the heat, and simmer the mixture until the sauce has thickened and plums are very soft, about 45 minutes.

Step 4
Mash plums with a potato masher to an applesauce-like texture. Place pork chops back into the pan and cook in the sauce until no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 15 minutes. A meat thermometer inserted into the middle of a chop should read 145 degrees (63 degrees C).