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.

PORK TENDERLOIN WITH SUMMER-SQUASH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Season pork with salt and pepper. Stir together mustard, fennel seeds, and 1 teaspoon oil; rub mixture all over pork. Cook couscous in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain; toss with 1 tablespoon oil. Drizzle 2 teaspoons oil over vegetables; season with salt and pepper.
• Brush grates with oil. Grill vegetables, flipping once, until tender and charred in places, about 3 minutes for scallions and 6 minutes for squashes. Grill pork, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides and a thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 138 degrees, 12 to 15 minutes. Whisk together vinegar, remaining 4 tablespoons oil, and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Chop scallions; stir into mint mixture. Toss couscous with squashes and 1/2 cup scallion relish. Slice pork and serve, with couscous and remaining relish.

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.