Make-Ahead Mediterranean Pork Chops
Ingredients
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¼ cup olive oil
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3 tablespoon lemon juice
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2 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano and/or rosemary
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2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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6 cloves garlic, minced
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2 teaspoon onion powder
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½ teaspoon kosher salt
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¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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8 bone-in pork loin chops, cut 1/2 inch thick (3 to 4 lb.) and trimmed
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1 16 ounce pkg. dried orzo pasta
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6 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
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2 cup chopped red bell peppers
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2 cup pitted green olives, halved
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2 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
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1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 oz.)
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Chopped fresh Italian parsley (optional)
Directions
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Serve remaining orzo mixture topped with chops and 1/2 cup feta cheese. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.
To Reheat
Thaw frozen container of chops and orzo mixture in refrigerator up to 48 hours. Transfer to a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add 1/2 cup water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve orzo mixture topped with chops and 1/2 cup feta cheese.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 548 | Calories |
| 22g | Fat |
| 52g | Carbs |
| 35g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 8 | |
| Calories 548 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 22g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol 79mg | 26% |
| Sodium 1197mg | 52% |
| Total Carbohydrate 52g | 19% |
| Total Sugars 6g | |
| Protein 35g | 70% |
| Vitamin C 48mg | 53% |
| Calcium 142mg | 11% |
| Iron 3.9mg | 22% |
| Potassium 904mg | 19% |
| Folate, total 160.3mcg | |
| Vitamin B-12 0.9mcg | |
| Vitamin B-6 1mg | |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.