Blueberries are incredibly versatile and are ideal in both savory and sweet dishes. Not only that, but they are a "superfood" because they contain a great source of antioxidants. These are able to fight free radicals and they are believed to slow down the aging process, help to fight against such illnesses as cancer and heart disease, and can improve both vision and gastrointestinal health. Blueberries are also low in calories and delicious, so it makes sense to use them in your easy recipes wherever possible!
Maybe you have tried blueberry recipes before like blueberry muffins or blueberry jello cheesecake but perhaps you have not thought about combining this "superfood" with meat. Apple and pork make a classic pairing and if you enjoy the sweetness of apple alongside your meat, you might also like what blueberries can do for it. The following recipe contains other sweet ingredients like orange zest, balsamic vinegar and orange marmalade, as well as herbs, spices and more. This sweet and sour taste goes well with the pork, which is a blank canvas before you add all these wonderful extras. This recipe is very simple and you just need to fry the pork cutlets until they are cooked through and then make the sauce.
Serve this delectable dish with rice and asparagus cooked to al dente, to make an impressive dinner dish which everyone will be very happy with. Alternatively you can serve a simple salad on the side, drizzling some balsamic vinegar over it for flavor.
Ingredients -
8 small, lean boneless pork cutlets
¼ cup olive oil
2 cups fresh wild blueberries
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
1 teaspoon orange peel
½ cup finely chopped red onions
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Preparation:
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a moderately high heat and brown the cutlets on both sides. Turn the heat down and keep cooking them until there is no trace of pink. When they are cooked, place the cutlets on a warmed serving platter. Keep them warm by putting tin foil over them.
Put the onions, blueberries, marmalade, orange peel, vinegar, coriander, ginger, and peppers in the same frying pan. Stir them together over a medium heat until the mixture thickens. This should take about 5 minutes. Spoon the mixture over the cutlets. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.
(Serves 4)
Wine Suggestion:
Gewurztraminer or Riesling would be the California wines of choice for this pork with blueberries recipe. Either of these wines is spicy and fruity enough to echo both the savory flavor of the pork and the sweetness of the sauce. Do not serve red wine with this dish because it does not go anywhere near as well as white wine does.
Photo Description:
As this picture shows you, the blueberry sauce adds a delicious-looking, glossy sheen to your pork. Whether you choose to serve the pork with vegetables and rice or with fries and a simple salad, that is up to you, but if you like the thought of a sticky, sweet sauce for your pork, you are going to love this. This Asian style dish is a bit like sweet and sour pork but the blueberries make it really unusual. This is a healthy dish as well as a flavorful one so you can enjoy every bite, knowing you are treating your body to a nutritious meal which also happens to taste wonderful.
Photo by:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23766209@N04/3875226459/
Use boneless pork for the best results when pan-frying. These will lay flat in the pan and this encourages the meat to cook evenly. If the meat contains a bone it will cook more slowly around the bone which means the outside might get overcooked while you wait for the center to finish cooking. Use a spatula or tongs to turn the meat, rather than a fork which will pierce the meat and let the juices bleed out.
Dry the pork with paper towels before putting it into the hot oil. This helps to reduce splattering. If there is a crumb coating on the meat let it stand for half an hour before you fry it. Do not get any drops of water in the hot oil because they will cause splattering. Dredge your pork chops or pork steaks with flour before frying them. This creates extra brown bits in the pan which you will appreciate when making your tasty sauce in the pan afterwards.
Canola oil gives a milder flavor than other oils. Alternatively you can use butter. Butter can burn though so use equal amounts of butter and oil for the best result from your pork and blueberry recipe.
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