Crispy Chops With Coconut Flour

• Coconut flour works as a substitute for cornmeal breading if you’re following a low-carb or gluten-free diet. It is heavier and coarser than unbleached, all-purpose flour, but coconut flour crisps up when fried, and has significantly fewer grams of carbohydrates per serving. Simply dredge the pork chops in an egg-and-water mixture and then coat with coconut flour and your favorite spice mix. Add a bit of shredded Parmesan cheese for added richness.

Get a Little Nuts

• Almonds are processed into many products, including almond milk, almond butter, almond flour and almond meal. Use almond flour or almond meal to coat your pork chops for a high-protein, low-carb alternative to cornmeal. Another option is to crush toasted almonds for use as a breading. Just as in recipes for cornmeal-breaded pork chops, dredge the pork in an egg-and-water mixture and then coat in an almond product. Almond flour will give you the finest grain coating, while almond meal will be heavier and almonds themselves will give your pork chops a crunchy crust.

Make Them Japanese

• For a tasty and light alternative to a cornmeal breading, use panko breadcrumbs. Used in Japanese tempura dishes, panko breadcrumbs provide a fine-grain coating for meat and vegetables. These breadcrumbs are lighter than traditional breadcrumbs, such as Italian breadcrumbs and you can find them in most grocery stores. Prepare your pork chops as you normally would when using cornmeal. Sage makes an excellent spice for panko-crusted pork, and the breadcrumbs mix well with Parmesan cheese.

Sample Your Pantry Staples

• When it comes to finding alternatives to breading pork chops, look to your pantry for a wealth of possibilities. Quinoa is a crunchy, nutty substitute for cornmeal breading. Although it’s often called a whole grain, quinoa is the seed of a plant native to South America. Its low glycemic index and high protein content make it an appealing choice for those on a low-carb or high protein diet. Thinly ground steel-cut oats may also be substituted for cornmeal, adding fiber to your meal. In a pinch, white sandwich bread put through the food processor makes a simple go-to for cornmeal-free pork chops.