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Recipe: Pork Skewers With Avocado Tzatziki Sauce

Published August 28, 2007 at midnight

Serves 5

2 pounds boneless pork, cut into 1 1/2-inch strips or cubes

10 (8-inch) wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 1 hour

3 unpeeled lemons, cut into small wedges, and 2 unpeeled oranges, cut into small wedges

6 pita rounds, each sliced into 2 half-moons

Shredded iceberg or romaine

Marinade:

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 to 3 large lemons)

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Make the marinade: In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, juices, red pepper flakes, chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper.

Add the pork and stir to coat.

Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill.

Thread skewers with 3 or 4 pieces of marinated pork, alternating with wedges of lemon and orange.

Reserve the marinade for basting.

To grill the pork:

Place skewers on an area of the grill with no direct flame.

Brush with the reserved marinade during the grilling, until the meat is browned on the outside but still slightly pink inside, 4 to 5 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.

To oven-broil the pork:

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the broiler. Preheat broiler. Put skewers on a highly oiled baking sheet and place under broiler.

After 3 1/2 minutes, turn the skewers over and brush with the reserved marinade.

Broil for another 3 1/2 minutes, brush again with the marinade, and broil for 1 to 2 minutes more, or until meat is browned on the outside but stills lightly pink inside.

Serve immediately in pita pockets topped with shredded lettuce and avocado tzatziki.

Note: Threading the skewers with chunks of lemon and orange, with their peels still on, adds flavor that complements the pork - and you can squeeze the juice from the grilled fruit over the meat. (Thread other fruit on the skewers if you like; try cherry tomatoes or kumquats.)

Nutritional information per serving, including marinade: 716 cal., 31 g fat (11 g sat.), 149 mg chol., 704 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 58 g pro.

Avocado Tzatziki

Makes 2 to 3 cups

2 cups plain yogurt (see note)

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup peeled, seeded, and grated cucumber (1 large cucumber)

1 avocado, peeled and diced

In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt.

Add the grated cucumber and the diced avocado and mix well.

Refrigerate, preferably for at least 1 hour, before serving.

Note: Straining the yogurt through cheesecloth for 30 minutes and discarding the liquid will make it thicker, but you can skip this step.

Nutritional information per serving: 471 cal., 45 g fat (9 g sat.), 21 mg chol., 722 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 7 g pro.

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