Chili Lime Pork Chops with Cilantro Cream
This recipe is taken from the 2012 Milk Calendar. Turn simple pork chops into something special with a zesty cream sauce and the fresh punch of cilantro and lime all over a bed of rice. You’ll get rave reviews from your guests - guaranteed!
- Prep: 10 min
- Cooking: 15 min - 20 min
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder
- 2 tsp (10 mL) grated lime zest
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
- 4 (about 1-inch/2.5 cm) boneless pork loin chops
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter divided
- 1 onion halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 2 tsp (10 mL) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (250 mL) 10% half-and-half cream
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
- Pepper
- Lime wedges
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Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a small bowl, combine chili powder, lime zest and salt; set half aside. Rub remaining chili powder mixture over both sides of pork chops.
In a skillet, melt half of the butter over medium-high heat; sear pork chops for 1 to 2 min per side or until browned; transfer chops to a rimmed baking sheet. Roast in oven for about 12 min or until just a hint of pink remains inside.
Meanwhile, return skillet to medium-low heat and melt remaining butter, swirling to coat. Sauté onion for about 5 min or until softened and starting to brown; add remaining chili powder mixture and sauté for 1 min. Whisk flour into cream and gradually pour into pan, stirring. Simmer, stirring, for about 3 min or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro and lime juice and season to taste with pepper. Spoon sauce over rice onto serving plates and top with pork chops; garnish with lime wedges to squeeze over top.
Tips
If you prefer bone-in pork chops, you may need to sear the chops in two batches to avoid crowding the pan which will prevent browning.
If your pork chops are thinner than 1 inch (2.5 cm) check for doneness after 8 min in the oven.
Add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp (1 to 2 mL) chipotle powder with chili powder or 1 tbsp (15 mL) minced chipotle in adobo sauce and 1 thinly sliced apple with onion; add 1 tbsp (15 mL) tequila with lime juice.
Nutritional information
Per serving| Energy: | 363 Calories |
| Protein: | 44 g |
| Carbohydrate: | 8 g |
| Fat: | 17 g |
| Fibre: | 1.3 g |
| Sodium: | 369 mg |
Top 5 Nutrients
| (% DV*) | |
|---|---|
| Calcium: | 8 % / 88 mg |
| Selenium: | 131 % |
| Thiamin: | 103 % |
| Vitamin B6: | 85 % |
| Niacin: | 68 % |
