Salsa Pork Chops and Rice

Name: Salsa Pork Chops and Rice
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 tbsp (15 mL) butter; 4 boneless pork chops; 1 cup (250 mL) long-grain white rice; 1 tsp (5 mL) salt; 1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano; 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) salsa or sweet chili sauce; 1/2 cup (125 mL) chicken stock; 2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour; 2 cups (500 mL) Milk; 2 cups (500 mL) frozen mixed chunky vegetables thawed; 1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded Canadian Cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese

This recipe is taken from the 2007 Milk Calendar. This is the Salsa Pork Chops and Rice recipe.

Prep: 5 min
Cooking: 35 min - 40 min

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients

1 tbsp (15 mL) butter
4 boneless pork chops
1 cup (250 mL) long-grain white rice
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
1 tsp (5 mL) dried oregano
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) salsa or sweet chili sauce
1/2 cup (125 mL) chicken stock
2 tbsp (30 mL) all-purpose flour
2 cups (500 mL) Milk
2 cups (500 mL) frozen mixed chunky vegetables thawed
1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded Canadian Cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese

READY FOR REWARDS?

Preparation

In large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Brown pork chops, turning once, for 2 to 3 min per side. Transfer to bowl. Reduce heat to medium. Add rice, salt and oregano; cook, stirring, for 1 min. Stir in salsa and chicken stock; bring to boil.

Whisk flour into milk; gradually stir into pan. Bring to simmer, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 15 min, stirring occasionally.

Stir vegetables into rice, nestle pork chops in rice in a single layer and add any accumulated juices to pan. Cover and cook for about 10 min longer or until just a hint of pink remains in pork and rice is tender. Remove from heat; sprinkle with cheese and let stand, covered, for 5 min.

Tips

Cooking Tip: To use brown rice in place of white, cook in boiling water for 10 min. Drain well and add to skillet as directed in step 1.

For the Adventurous: Replace pork chops with 1 lb (450 g) pork tenderloin cut into 3/4-inch (2 cm) thick medallions. Add one chopped canned chipotle pepper with the vegetables and use crumbled feta cheese on top.

Healthy Eating Tip: Hard cheeses such as Cheddar and Monterey Jack have been shown to prevent cavities. This recipe is a great way to celebrate National Oral Health Month'!