Soy and Ginger Pork Chops

Preheat the broiler. Lightly grease a medium roasting pan with olive oil.

In a spice grinder, finely grind the star anise pod. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the cumin, coriander, fennel, paprika, cinnamon and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Rub the spice mix all over the pork chops. Set the chops in the roasting pan and broil 6 inches from the heat until golden and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer the pork chops to plates.

Add the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil and ginger to the roasting pan and simmer over moderate heat for 2 minutes, stirring and scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Whisk in the butter.

Spoon the soy-ginger sauce over the pork chops and garnish with cilantro.