Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops with Grilled Tomato Sauce / Jill Silverman Hough

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika (see note below)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 3/4 to 4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided, or more to taste
• 4 pork rib chops, about 1 inch thick, ideally brined (see below)
• 1/2 onion (halved through the root end)
• 4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise and seeded
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar, or more to taste