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Grilled Pork Cutlets With Cilantro Peanut Pesto

Grilled Pork Cutlets With Cilantro Peanut Pesto

Photo by Deb Lindsey for The Washington Post

This boldly flavorful herb sauce is seasoned with tangy lime, ginger, garlic and toasted sesame oil. Here, it is paired with lean grilled pork cutlets, but it is delicious drizzled on simply grilled fish, chicken and vegetables, eggs, potatoes or ripe summer tomatoes. The chops can be cooked on an outdoor grill as well.

Make Ahead: The pesto can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

 

Grilled Pork Cutlets With Cilantro Peanut Pesto

 

Ingredients

For the Pesto

1 1/2 cups cup packed fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems
1/3 cup unsalted, roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger root
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons peanut oil, or neutral oil such as avocado or canola
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
 
For the Pork
Six 3/4-inch-thick boneless loin pork chops
1/2 tablespoon peanut oil, or neutral oil such as avocado or canola
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted, roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped, for garnish
Cilantro leaves, for garnish
Directions

For the pesto: Combine the cilantro, peanuts, lime juice, garlic, ginger, salt, crushed red pepper flakes and the 3 tablespoons of water in a mini food processor; pulse until finely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in the peanut oil and toasted sesame oil to form a blended pesto. The yield is about 3/4 cup.

For the pork: Place the pork chops on a cutting board and cover with a piece of plastic wrap. Use a mallet or rolling pin to pound them to a thickness of about 1/4-inch.

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the pork with oil and season with the salt and pepper, then grill until just slightly blush in the center and grill marks have formed, 2 minutes per side.

Serve the pork with about 1 1/2 tablespoons pesto drizzled over each piece. Garnish with peanuts and cilantro leaves.

Makes 6 servings,

Serving size: 1 pork chop and about 2 tablespoons pesto

Per serving: Calories 310; Total Fat 19 g; (Sat Fat 4 g); Protein 32 g; Carb 4 g; Fiber 0 g; Cholesterol 80 mg; Sodium 290 mg; Total Sugar 0 g

 
 

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