Pork Chimichurri Salad Recipe

• Difficulty: Easy
• Serves: 4
• Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories 479, Total Fat 36g, Saturated Fat 11g, Carbohydrates 7g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Sugar 3g, Protein 32g, Cholesterol 96mg, Sodium 616mg
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Salad:

• 6 ounces spring mix greens (about 12 cups loosely packed)
• 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 ounces soft cheese such as queso fresco, goat cheese, or fresh mozzarella, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
• Cooking oil spray
• 1 pound boneless pork loin chops, about 1-inch thick, trimmed

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 15 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
• 3 sprigs fresh oregano leaves
• 1/2 chipotle pepper (from canned chipotles in adobo)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a food processor, blend the olive oil, red wine vinegar, parsley, oregano leaves, and chipotle pepper until smooth; season with salt and pepper and set the dressing aside.
2. Preheat the broiler and place a rack about 6 inches from the heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking oil.
3. Arrange the pork chops on the prepared sheet and season both sides with salt and pepper. Broil until the internal temperature reaches 160F, about 56 minutes per side. Remove and let rest 5 minutes.
4. While the pork rests, toss the spring mix, halved cherry tomatoes, and diced cheese with some chimichurri dressing in a large bowl. Divide the salad among plates or a serving platter.
5. Slice the pork into 1/4-inch strips, place on the salad, drizzle with extra dressing, and serve immediately.

Additional Tips:

• Use store-bought pesto mixed with red wine vinegar and chipotle pepper if you prefer to skip making the dressing; adjust seasoning as needed.
• Serve with a crusty roll or tortilla chips for a heartier meal.
• Substitute spring mix with spinach, arugula, or romaine for variation.
• Add sliced red onions, black olives, or shredded carrots for extra flavor and texture.
• You can grill or pan-sear the pork chops instead of broiling, if you prefer.