Asian cuisines often depend on the blatant exploitation of the palate – hitting taste buds with sweet, salty, sour and spicy all at once, then perhaps adding a bold herb or two.
Sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and crushed red pepper are ingredients many of us can find on our shelves on any given day, and if not, are easy to find in good quantity at the supermarket.
Remember that the best soy sauce has been fermented and contains no caramel coloring or flavorings. Read the label to be sure, so that the flavors in your cooking stay true.
Substitute boneless chicken breast halves or tender steak pieces for the pork in the following recipe if you prefer.
To develop a layer of delicious flavor, resist the temptation to move the pork chops or check them after you add them to the pan.
Let them sit undisturbed until they brown well, then turn them.
Fast Lane list:@ Soy sauce, vinegar, red pepper flakes, pork loin chops, garlic, rice, snow peas.
ASIAN PORK CHOPS
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Combine soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar and red pepper in a small bowl or custard cup. Stir to dissolve sugar.
Heat vegetable oil in a wide skillet over high or medium-high heat.
Add chops, and cook without moving, about four minutes. Flip the pork chops over; cook two minutes more. Remove to plate. Drain excess oil from pan, put pan back on heat and add garlic. Cook a few seconds, until the garlic is aromatic, then add soy sauce mixture. It should boil rapidly for a few seconds. Pour over chops, and serve with snow peas and rice.
Serves 4.
Nutritional analysis per serving nutrition data: 335 calories, 15 grams fat, 44 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrate, 840 milligrams sodium.
-Fast Lane features menus for busy cooks. Recipes use a minimum of ingredients and allow express checkout at the supermarket. Flour, sugar, salt, pepper and oil or butter are presumed to be on hand.
