Showing posts with label pork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pork. Show all posts

Thursday, March 25, 2010

(51) Barbecued Pork Chops

I am officially in love with pork chops on the bone! They end up much more tender than boneless ones, and for me, the tradeoff of a few more calories is worth it!! This recipe was so simple to put together. I wasn't quite sure how the flavors would work - especially that much sesame oil. But it was amazing how much flavor the chops had after just 30 minutes of marinating. They were spicy and sweet and a little smokey all at the same time. Very intriguing!

I will say that I failed to properly do the glaze. OOPS. I was washing dishes while the chops cooked and the sauce simmered. It was so little in the pan and 2 seconds too long = sauce glued to the pan. I was able to save a little bit, though! These are pork chops that I will definitely make again!!


Barbecued Pork Chops

A simple 8-ingredient marinade, made with mostly pantry staples, brings out the vibrant flavor of these chops. Pair with kimchi-style slaw for a flavorful duo and a quick cooking dinner solution, ready in about 40 minutes (including a 25-minute marinade).


Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop)
Source: Cooking Light, JUNE 2009

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon pineapple juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons sake (rice wine)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (4-ounce) bone-in pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
Cooking spray
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted

1. Combine first 8 ingredients in a zip-top plastic bag; add pork to bag. Seal; marinate at room temperature 25 minutes.

2. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Remove pork from bag; reserve marinade. Sprinkle pork with salt. Cook pork 3 minutes on each side or until done. Pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 2 minutes or until thickened. Brush pork with reduced marinade; sprinkle with sesame seeds.

CALORIES 195 ; FAT 9.4g (sat 2.5g,mono 3.9g,poly 2.4g); CHOLESTEROL 49mg; CALCIUM 31mg; CARBOHYDRATE 8.9g; SODIUM 433mg; PROTEIN 17.7g; FIBER 0.3g; IRON 1mg

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Monday, March 8, 2010

(46) Stuffed Pork Sandwich

It's Monday and I just have that Monday 'blah' feeling. I almost said "forget it!" and skipped cooking dinner all together, but I hated to waste the thawed out pork chops. I'm SO GLAD that I didn't skip this recipe!!! My husband actually cooked these while I made the side dish, so I can attest to it being easy. He hardly asked any questions & didn't say any bad words :)

The flavors of this sandwich are great! The pickle and the cheese give the right amount of saltiness. I was also very taken by the complex textures of such a seemingly simple sandwich. You've got soft bun and tomato, then a snap of crisp Romaine. When you get to the pork it's tender, but you still have to get your teeth into it... The cheese and pickle are a squishy treat in the middle!! I couldn't get enough!! If you like Cuban sandwiches, please try this recipe!!



Stuffed Pork Sandwich

Source: Eating Well Magazine - January/February 2009
Yield: 4 sandwiches

The classic Cuban sandwich inspired this recipe. The original is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese and pickles pressed and griddled between two pieces of soft white bread. Our version cuts down on the meat and is served on a soft whole-wheat bun. Feel free to press it in a panini maker to make it crispy. Serve with vinegary coleslaw.

4 4-ounce boneless pork chops, 1/2 inch thick, trimmed
2 thin slices Swiss cheese, (1 ounce each), cut in half
4 dill pickle sandwich slices
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, toasted
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 slices tomato
2 romaine lettuce leaves, cut in half

1. Cut each pork chop nearly in half horizontally, stopping short of the opposite side. Open each chop and place between sheets of plastic wrap. Pound with a meat mallet or heavy skillet until flattened to an even thickness, slightly thicker than 1/8 inch.

2. Place a piece of cheese and a pickle slice on one side of each flattened chop. Fold the chop over the filling, closing it like a book. Press the edges firmly together to seal. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stuffed chops, reduce heat to medium and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes per side.

4. To assemble sandwiches, spread the toasted buns with mustard and top each with a pork chop, tomato slice and lettuce.

Nutritional Information
353 Calories; 15 g Fat; 5 g Sat; 6 g Mono; 79 mg Cholesterol; 25 g Carbohydrates; 29 g Protein; 4 g Fiber; 612 mg Sodium; 522 mg Potassium

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Sunday, February 21, 2010

(36) Barbecue-Rubbed Pork Chops

This is one of those 5-star recipes that you would never think would be a 5-star recipe!! The flavors of the rub are so complex - smokey, sweet, spicy, all rolled in to one. We grilled the pork chops on the grill, vs. the stove top (which I am sure would have been fine too!). Super quick and so so good!! I highly recommend this recipe!



Barbecue-Rubbed Pork Chops

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, April 2007

These tasty chops use spices that can all be found in your pantry, making them a great choice for busy weeknights.


1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut loin pork chops, trimmed (about 1/2 inch thick)
Cooking spray

Combine first 9 ingredients; rub over both sides of pork. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook for 2 minutes on each side. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 8 minutes or until done, turning occasionally. Remove from pan; let stand 5 minutes.

CALORIES 277 (34% from fat); FAT 10.5g (sat 3.8g,mono 4.7g,poly 0.8g); IRON 1.4mg; CHOLESTEROL 105mg; CALCIUM 48mg; CARBOHYDRATE 4.3g; SODIUM 669mg; PROTEIN 38.8g; FIBER 0.5g

Thursday, January 28, 2010

(17) Slow-Roasted Pork Tacos

This is like crock-pot pulled pork, but in the oven. I ended up roasting the pork closer to 4 hrs - another use for my favorite Le Creuset :) I wanted SO BADLY to pour my prized bottle of Carolina BBQ Sauce over the pork, but I restrained myself! I cooked the night before we were going to eat these, shredded (It was VERY tender!!), stirred in the cilantro and then put it in the fridge.

For my taste, this needed something else on the pork. I should have made a good pico de gallo or homemade salsa. I had a jar of green salsa, so that and a dash of hot sauce made the tacos complete!!


Slow-Roasted Pork Tacos

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 2 tacos)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, October 2000

This simple recipe was inspired by the traditional kalua pork of Hawaii, for which a whole pig is rubbed thoroughly with salt and baked in an underground pit. In this dish, the salt combines with the slow cooking to make the pork incredibly tender and flavorful. Don't use a leaner cut of pork, such as pork loin or tenderloin, or the meat will be dry. These tacos are also terrific with a mango or other fruit salsa.

3 1/2 pounds Boston Butt pork roast
3 tablespoons kosher salt
20 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
10 lime wedges

Preheat oven to 275°.

Trim fat from roast; rub surface of roast with salt. Place meat in a large Dutch oven; cover and place in oven. Cook for 3 hours or until pork falls apart when pressed with the back of a fork. Remove from oven; let stand, covered, 15 minutes. Remove meat from bones, and shred with 2 forks. Set aside.

Warm tortillas according to package directions. Fill each tortilla with about 1 1/2 ounces pork; serve with cilantro and lime wedges.

CALORIES 333 (40% from fat); FAT 14.9g (sat 4.9g,mono 6.4g,poly 2.2g); IRON 2.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 88mg; CALCIUM 97mg; CARBOHYDRATE 23.4g; SODIUM 486mg; PROTEIN 25.9g; FIBER 2.7g

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

(3) Pork Chops with Maple Mustard Glaze

This was absolutely delicious!! I had to go out and buy real maple syrup... SO worth the money! This is a glaze, not a sauce, so don't be expecting to cover rice with this. It coats the pork chops beautifully and is sweet, but tangy. It's the perfect balance of flavors. (and it's EASY!!)



Pork Chops with Maple Mustard Glaze

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and about 1 tablespoon sauce)
Source: Cooking Light, May 2006

Maple syrup makes a fine stand-in for honey or sugar in sauces. Here, it adds a rich, sweet note to herbed mustard sauce. This sauce goes nicely with sautéed chicken breasts as well.

1 teaspoon butter
4 (4-ounce) boneless pork loin chops, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons heavy cream

Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle pork chops evenly with salt and pepper; add pork to pan. Cook 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Remove from pan; keep warm.

Add broth and next 4 ingredients (through thyme) to pan. Bring to a boil, and cook for 3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in cream, and reduce heat to medium. Return pork to pan; simmer 3 minutes or until pork is done, turning once.

CALORIES 214 (22% from fat); FAT 5.2g (sat 1.9g,mono 1.9g,poly 0.6g); IRON 1.2mg; CHOLESTEROL 68mg; CALCIUM 38mg; CARBOHYDRATE 14.6g; SODIUM 751mg; PROTEIN 26.3g; FIBER 0.3g

Thursday, November 19, 2009

(107) Buttermilk-Brined Pork Chops

This is a new method/concept for me, but I'm totally sold!! The pork was moist and tender, flavorful from the herbs, and a touch salty. Perfect!

Buttermilk-Brined Pork Chops

Source: Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2004
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chop)

Though these pork chops require overnight brining, they make dinner the next night a breeze. Brine these chops up to two days beforehand. Just remove from brine after an overnight soak, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to cook.

2 cups fat-free buttermilk
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
4 (6-ounce) bone-in center-cut pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; shake well to dissolve salt and sugar. Add pork; seal and refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally. Remove pork from bag; discard brine. Pat pork dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle pork with pepper.

Heat a large nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat the pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook 3 1/2 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

Calories 183 (35% from fat); Fat 7.2g (sat 2.5g,mono 3.2g,poly 0.6g); Iron 0.8mg; Cholesterol 69mg; Calcium 43mg; Carbohydrate 2g; Sodium 345mg; Protein 26g; Fiber 0.3g

Thursday, September 3, 2009

(75) Pork Tenderloin with Paprika Spice Rub

Quick and easy weeknight meal. The rub is very flavorful!




Pork Tenderloin with Paprika Spice Rub

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, November 2008

1 tablespoon Paprika Spice Blend
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray

1. Preheat oven to 500°.

2. Rub Paprika Spice Blend over pork. Place pork in a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 500° for 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155°.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 191 (26% from fat), Fat: 5.6g (sat 1.9g,mono 2.2g,poly 0.5g), Protein: 32.1g, Carbohydrate: 0.9g, Fiber: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 90mg, Iron: 1.8mg, Sodium: 284mg, Calcium: 10mg

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

(70) Maple-Sage Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Ok now this recipe is really a no-brainer. Chop up some sage (you must use fresh!!), pop it all in a ziplock and then let it sit for a few minutes. I know that my friends from the north will shudder, cry, scream bad words at me, or something... but I used regular old pancake syrup (Publix brand, lite butter mmmm) and it was a.ok to me!!

The pork was really tender and the flavors were great. The maple and sage made it almost taste like breakfast sausage (yum!). I served with some egg noodles and steamed broccoli.


Maple-Sage Roasted Pork Tenderloin


Only four ingredients give pork tenderloin outstanding flavor in this dish. Serve with sweet potatoes and sautéed spinach for a dinner that's ready in less than an hour.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, November 2008

1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed
Cooking spray

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and turn to coat. Marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 400°.

3. Remove pork from bag. Place pork on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155°. Cover loosely with foil. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 153 (24% from fat), Fat: 4.1g (sat 1.4g,mono 1.6g,poly 0.4g), Protein: 24g, Carbohydrate: 3.5g, Fiber: 0.0g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Iron: 1.3mg, Sodium: 343mg, Calcium: 10mg

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

(56) Balsamic Pork with Shallots

The chopping was a little bit of a pain, but otherwise this was a SNAP! I feared it would be too salty, but it was really great! I'll make this one again, for sure!

Balsamic Pork with Shallots

This dish is reminiscent of bistro-style steak with shallot sauce. Serve with rice, egg noodles, or roasted potatoes.


Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces pork and 1/4 cup shallot mixture)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, March 2009

5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut crosswise into (1/2-inch-thick) slices
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 1/4 cups thinly sliced shallots (about 8)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add pork to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan, and keep warm.

2. Add remaining 4 teaspoons oil to pan; reduce heat to medium. Add shallots to pan; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup water and vinegar; simmer 6 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spoon shallot mixture over pork. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 260, Fat: 9.6g (sat 2.1g,mono 5.9g,poly 1.1g), Protein: 26.2g, Carbohydrate: 16.9g, Fiber: 0.7g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Iron: 2.6mg, Sodium: 365mg, Calcium: 44mg

Sunday, July 26, 2009

(54) Grilled Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin

And now for the star of the show... MEOW! This pork was SO good. Throw a few yummy ingredients into a ziplock, let the pork soak it all in for a few hours, off to the grill and VOILA! Dinner! I love meals like this! The pork was quite tender and so very flavorful (but not overly strong). Just right. This will go into the regular rotation!


Grilled Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin


Yield: 8 servings
Source: Southern Living, MARCH 2008

2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup honey
3 tablespoons country-Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper

1. Remove silver skin from tenderloin, leaving a thin layer of fat covering the tenderloin.

2. Stir together chopped parsley and next 7 ingredients until blended. Pour mixture in a large, shallow dish or zip-top plastic freezer bag; add pork, cover or seal, and chill at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours, turning occasionally. Remove pork, discarding marinade.

3. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high). Grill tenderloin, covered with grill lid, 8 to 10 minutes on all sides or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 150° to 155°. Remove tenderloin from grill, and let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Monday, July 20, 2009

(50) Teriyaki Pork and Vegetables with Noodles

This is a weeknight dinner winner FOR SURE! In the time it took me to boil the water and cook the noodles, dinner was ready!! Flavorful, easy, and filling. Even the baby liked this one :) She's definitely my kid!! Oh and the spice factor was medium. It wasn't on fire, but it wasn't a sissy dish!! If you're a wimp, go for less of the chili sauce and you'll be a-ok!


Teriyaki Pork and Vegetables with Noodles

The sweet-savory flavor of teriyaki sauce is a centuries-old mixture of soy sauce and mirin (sweet cooking wine). Over time, Japanese Americans added ginger, brown sugar, pineapple juice, and green onions, elements of the bottled teriyaki sauce Americans know today.


Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 1 3/4 cups)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, November 2007

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
4 green onions
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
3 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick), cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 (3 1/2-ounce) package shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup low-sodium teriyaki sauce
4 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid; keep warm.

Remove green tops from green onions; thinly slice, and set aside. Mince white portions of green onions; set aside.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced green onions, bell pepper, pork, and mushrooms; sauté 3 minutes or until pork is browned. Combine reserved 1/4 cup cooking liquid, teriyaki sauce, and chili garlic sauce in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add pasta and teriyaki sauce mixture to pan; toss well to coat. Stir in sliced green onion tops.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 444 (27% from fat), Fat: 13.5g (sat 4.1g,mono 4.6g,poly 2.7g), Protein: 26.3g, Carbohydrate: 51.9g, Fiber: 3.1g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Iron: 3.4mg, Sodium: 633mg, Calcium: 40mg

Thursday, January 15, 2009

(7) Pork Chops Oreganata

I made these earlier in the week and they were tasty and fast! I liked how light the flavors were on the pork (lemony, but not overly). They took a little while longer to broil than the recipe stated. I served with the recommended salad, but I used couscous instead of bulgur. I'd make these again!



Pork Chops Oreganata

CL Comments: While the pork marinates, prepare a warm bulgur salad. Combine 3 cups hot cooked bulgur and 5 ounces baby spinach; cover and let stand 15 minutes or until spinach wilts. Stir in 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled feta cheese.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chop)
Source: Cooking Light Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 (4-ounce) boneless pork chops
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in an 11 x 7–inch baking dish. Add pork, turning to coat. Let stand 30 minutes, turning pork occasionally.

2. Preheat broiler.

3. Remove pork from baking dish; discard marinade. Sprinkle pork evenly with salt and pepper. Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 4 minutes on each side or until done.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 168, Fat: 6g (sat 1.9g,mono 2.7g,poly 0.5g), Protein: 26.5g, Carbohydrate: 0.2g, Fiber: 0.0g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Iron: 1.1mg, Sodium: 283mg, Calcium: 16mg

Sunday, January 11, 2009

(6) Triple Red Pork Stew (Ragout Pebronata)

This recipe is a Sunday afternoon kind of recipe. It was quite labor intensive and oh my word, LOTS of dirty dishes. The serving was very hearty and the pork melts in your mouth!vThe flavor was great, but I'm not sure it's one I'd repeat just because of the time it took. I served it with pasta as suggested, but I think it would be better over polenta, mashed potatoes or egg noodles.



Triple Red Pork Stew (Ragout Pebronata)

CL Comments: Red wine, red peppers, and tomatoes join in this glorious Mediterranean mélange. Pasta or polenta would be welcome accompaniments. Prepare this stew up to three days ahead, refrigerate, and reheat to serve. You can also freeze it for up to a month.

Source: Cooking Light Magazine, January/February 2009
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup pasta and about 3/4 cup pork mixture)

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (Boston butt), trimmed and cut into (2-inch) cubes
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups shiraz or other hearty red wine, divided
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium beef broth
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, chopped
3 pounds tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and cut in strips (about 4 1/2 cups)
3 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 red bell peppers, cut in thin strips
4 cups hot cooked rigatoni pasta

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Combine 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; sprinkle evenly over pork. Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat. Add half of pork to pan; sauté 4 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove pork from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil and pork. Reduce heat to medium. Add flour to pan; sauté 1 minute or until flour browns, stirring constantly. Add 2 cups wine to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return pork to pan. Stir in broth; bring to a boil.

3. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 1/2 hours or until pork crushes easily between your finger and thumb, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly. Remove pork from broth mixture using a slotted spoon. Bring broth mixture to a boil over high heat; cook until reduced to 1 1/2 cups (about 15 minutes). Return pork to broth mixture, and cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

4. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until starting to brown, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, tomatoes, parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, and bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Cook 30 minutes or until the mixture is thick, stirring occasionally.

5. Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add bell peppers to pan; sauté 10 minutes or until wilted, stirring frequently. Increase heat to high. Add remaining 1 cup wine, and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half (about 7 minutes). Add tomato mixture to bell pepper mixture. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally. Discard parsley, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir sauce into pork mixture, and simmer an additional 10 minutes so flavors blend. Taste and adjust seasoning, if desired. Serve over pasta.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 543, Fat: 21.9g (sat 4.8g,mono 12g,poly 3.4g), Protein: 39.1g, Carbohydrate: 48.3g, Fiber: 5.9g, Cholesterol: 98mg, Iron: 4.7mg, Sodium: 567mg, Calcium: 65mg

Saturday, January 3, 2009

(1) Mexican Black Bean Sausage Chili

Well, we're starting the new year off with a bang! Before Christmas, I had intentions to make this recipe but I just ran out of time. So instead of let the meat go to waste, I made the sausage and then put it in the freezer. That step was very handy when I decided to make this today!!

This soup had quite a kick!! If you don't love spicy spicy stuff, cut the chipotles down to 2 instead of 3. The recipe says that it makes 6 servings at 1 3/4 cup each. I ended up with 8 servings at 2 cups each! Score! That cuts the nutritional information down to 296 cal, 8g fat, 26g protein, 30 carb, 10.5g fiber, 22mg chol, and 749mg of sodium! Much more manageable!

I served the soup with cornbread. Will definitely make this recipe again!













Mexican Black Bean Sausage Chili


Yield: 6 servings (1 3/4 cup each) -- I got 8 servings @ 2 cups each
Source: Cooking Light Magazine - January 2006

Ingredients

Sausage:
1 1/2 tablespoons Hungarian sweet paprika
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons dry red wine
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Dash of kosher salt
3/4 pound lean ground pork
3/4 pound ground turkey breast

Chili:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups diced onion (about 2 medium)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced
4 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
3 cups water
2 (14.5-ounce) cans no salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup very finely chopped cilantro, divided
Low-fat sour cream (optional)
Sliced green onions (optional)

Preparation

1) To prepare sausage, combine first 12 ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2) To prepare chili, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage mixture; cook 7 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add onion, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon garlic, 2 teaspoons oregano, and chiles; cook 4 minutes or until onion is tender.

3) Place 1 1/2 cups black beans and 1 cup broth in a food processor; process until smooth. Add puréed beans, remaining beans, remaining 2 cups broth, water, and tomatoes to pan; bring to a boil.

4) Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, 45 minutes or until slightly thick. Stir in juice and cilantro. Ladle about 1 3/4 cups chili into each of 6 bowls. Garnish each serving with sour cream and sliced green onions, if desired.

Nutritional Information

Calories:395 (27% from fat), Fat: 11g (sat 2.9g,mono 6g,poly 2.1g), Protein: 35.3g, Carbohydrate: 40.4g, Fiber: 13.7g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Iron: 6mg, Sodium: 989mg, Calcium: 128mg