Cuban Spiced Pork Chops

justcallmetoni's Note:

This is the perfect recipe for those who love the flavors of a classic Cuban pork roast but are cooking in small quantities. Typical of Cuban fare, these are full of tropical flavors but not spicy. The garlic and lime pair beautifully in a fragrant marinade. Though you can marinade as briefly as an hour, for best results let the pork soak up to 6-8 hours. (Don't marinade overnight as the citrus cooks the pork over longer periods). Serve these with my Almost Fried Plantains #134349 for a delightful healthy meal.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 2 (5 ounce) lean boneless pork chops
• 2 limes, juice of
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• ½ teaspoon olive oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Trim excess fat from pork chops. Use a knife to cut shallow cross-hatch marks over both surfacesof the chops.
2. Mix all remaining ingredients together in a resealable bag or non-reactive container. Add the chops and place in the refrigerator. Marinate at least an hour.
3. Grill or broil 8-10 minutes, turning once half way.

Reviews

[evewitch]

These were easy and turned out somewhat flavorful despite the short marinating time. However, I thought that the lime was far more pronounced that the spices, which was a bit disappointing.

[Cluich]

Added a little mesquite seasoning and these were really good.

[KK - Chef #426156]

While these are not bad, I agree with a review by Kat in DC - there are some missing flavors and the lime juice is too strong. Also, I usually find that ground spices require longer cooking when paired with citrus. I'll probably make this again with some significant changes, including trying a version that braises the pork to tenderness. This recipe is a good start to something better.