Skinny Cajun Pork With Fresh Pepper Couscous Recipes

SKILLET PORK TENDERLOIN WITH SPICED CARROTS AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Mix together the pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon cumin, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix all over the pork tenderloin.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the pork tenderloin down the center of the skillet. Cook the pork, flipping occasionally and keeping it in the center of the skillet, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
• While the pork cooks, toss together the ginger, carrots, lemons, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to one side of the pork tenderloin in the skillet and then add the carrot mixture, spreading it out in an even layer. (Leave the other side of the pork empty.) Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet and cook until the carrots are bright orange and just start to become tender, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the couscous, apricots and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl. Add the couscous mixture and 1 1/2 cups water to the empty side of the skillet. Pile the spinach on top of the carrots, cover the skillet and cook until the couscous is fluffy and tender and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork has reached about 150 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Remove the pork to a cutting board and slice. Serve with the carrots and couscous.

30-MINUTE ROASTED PORK WITH GRAPES AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Position 2 oven racks in the top and middle position, and preheat to 450 degrees F. Toss the grapes and sage leaves with 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake on the top rack until the grapes have shriveled and softened and the skins have browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Pull out some of the sage leaves to use as garnish.
• Meanwhile, season the pork all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning as needed, until well-browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the middle rack of the oven, and roast the pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 145 degrees F, 11 to 12 minutes. Set aside to rest.
• While the grapes and pork roast, put the couscous in a medium bowl. Add just enough hot water to cover the couscous, cover with plastic wrap and let sit until all the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Slice the pork. Put the couscous on a serving platter, and top with the pork and grapes. Sprinkle with the walnuts and reserved sage leaves.

GRANDMA EDNA'S CAJUN PORK

Steps:

• Finely chop vegetables. In a large skillet, saute vegetables in butter until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in seasonings and pepper sauce., Cut several slits in roast to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Spoon onion mixture between slits and over the top of meat. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until pork is tender., Transfer roast to a serving platter; keep warm. Strain cooking juices and pour into a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve with roast.

SKINNY CAJUN PORK WITH FRESH PEPPER COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Sprinkle all sides of pork chops with Cajun seasoning. Coat peppers with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
• For a charcoal grill, place pork chops, sweet pepper quarters, and poblano pepper quarters on the rack directly over medium coals. Grill, uncovered, for 7 to 9 minutes or until chops are slightly pink in centers (160°F) and peppers are crisp-tender, turning once halfway through grilling. Add jalapeño pepper halves to the grill for the last 2 to 3 minutes of grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place chops, sweet pepper quarters, and poblano pepper quarters on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above, adding jalapeño pepper halves to grill as above.)
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to boiling; add couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Slice sweet pepper and poblano pepper quarters into bite-size strips. Finely chop jalapeño pepper halves. Stir peppers and almonds into couscous. Serve couscous mixture with pork chops.