Mediterranean Pork With Orzo Food

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND ORZO

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to the package instructions. Reduce total cooking time by 1 minute. Reserve 1 cup of starchy cooking water. Drain and return to hot pot. Set aside.
• Season the pork chops with about half of the amount of each of the spices listed, saving the other half for the orzo.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Once hot, add the pork chops and cook 3-4 minutes on each side.
• Add wine to the pan to deglaze and reduce by half, approximately 2-3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add spinach, red pepper, feta and reserved spices to the orzo and stir to combine. Add a bit of the starchy cooking water (I probably used about ⅓ to ½ cup) to create a sauce. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired.
• Serve orzo with a pork chop on top.

GRILLED SOUTHERN TURKISH TAMALES & TURKISH PORK KABOBS WITH MEDITERRANEAN ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• 1. 1.) Prepare Mediterranean orzo pilaf. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large Dutch oven; stir in orzo. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cover. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add green bell peppers, green onions and garlic; sauté for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain any excess broth from orzo. Combine orzo and buttered sautéed vegetable mixture into a 2-quart round casserole dish, fold in diced tomatoes and sliced black olives; set aside.
• 2. 2.) Wash out Dutch oven clean, dry inside out completely to prepare Southern Tamale leaves. Fill Dutch oven to 2-inches from rim with hot water. Bring water to a rapid boil. Turn off heat and add collard leaves. Let sit for 3 - 5 minutes. Quickly remove leaves from water and place leaves flat along side each other onto a few layers of paper towels. Place a large spoonful of Mediterranean orzo pilaf mixture in the center of each collard leaf. Fold the ends over the pilaf mixture to form a sealed packed. Secure each with toothpick for added protection. Place tamales onto a plate; set aside. Reserve remaining Mediterranean orzo pilaf to serve later with completed meal.
• 3. 3.) Prepare pork kabobs. Season all sides of pork with a little salt and ground black pepper. Tread seasoned pork, eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers alternately on each of 10 bamboo skewers, leaving about 1-inch space free from tops of each skewer. Brush each lightly with Italian dressing. Heat coal or gas grill for medium heat level. Place kabobs on lower rack of grill along side each other. Cover and grill kabobs over medium heat 10 minutes, turning and brushing with Italian dressing every 2 minutes. Add tamales onto outer edge or upper rack of grill and cook, for an additional 5 minutes longer for kabobs, brushing kabobs with Italian dressing and turning tamales one time within 2 ½ minutes, or until pork is no longer pink and vegetables plus tamales are tender.
• 4. 4.) To serve, place grilled kabobs and tamales onto serving platters, along side of Mediterranean orzo pilaf, or serve even portions of each onto 6 individual serving plates.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND ORZO

Steps:

• Rub pork with pepper; cut into 1-in. cubes. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add pork; cook and stir until no longer pink, 8-10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, bring water to a boil. Stir in orzo and salt; cook, uncovered, 8 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook until orzo is tender and spinach is wilted, 45-60 seconds longer. Drain., Add tomatoes to pork; heat through. Stir in orzo mixture and cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK WITH ORZO

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to boil. Add orzo, cook 8 minutes.
• While orzo is cooking, cut pork into 1 inch cubes. Toss with lemon pepper. Heat olive oil in skillet, saute pork until done, 8-10 minutes. Turn down to low; add olives, spinach and tomatoes. Cook 2 minutes until spinach is wilted.
• Drain orzo, toss with pork mixture. Top with feta.

MAKE-AHEAD MEDITERRANEAN PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• For marinade, in an extra-large bowl whisk together first eight ingredients (through black pepper). Add chops, spooning marinade over chops to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour.
• In a deep 12-inch nonstick skillet cook chops, half at a time, over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until a thermometer registers 145°F, turning once. Remove from skillet; cover and keep warm.
• Add orzo to same skillet. Cook and stir 1 minute, scraping up crusty browned bits. Slowly add broth, scraping up any remaining bits. Stir in bell peppers and olives. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 7 minutes. Simmer, uncovered, 2 minutes more or until orzo is nearly tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir in tomatoes.
• Transfer half of the orzo mixture to an airtight container. Top with four of the chops; cool slightly. Store in freezer up to 2 months.
• Serve remaining orzo mixture topped with chops and 1/2 cup feta cheese. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK AND ORZO

Steps:

• Rub pork with pepper; cut into 1-inch cubes. In a large nonstick skillet, cook pork in oil over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until no longer pink.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in orzo and salt; cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 45-60 seconds longer or until orzo is tender and spinach is wilted.
• Add tomatoes to the pork; cook and stir for 1 minute or until heated through. Drain orzo mixture; toss with pork mixture and feta cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. If desired, line a shallow roasting pan with foil. Sprinkle all sides of chops with salt and pepper; set aside. In a small bowl combine rosemary and garlic. Sprinkle rosemary mixture evenly over all sides of the chops; rub in with your fingers.
• Place chops on a rack in the shallow roasting pan. Roast chops for 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue roasting about 25 minutes or until no pink remains (160 degrees Fahrenheit) and juices run clear.