Have you ever had a time when you’re home alone for a week or two and you finally get tired of make do dinners of things you pop in the microwave just to fill your belly?
Yeah, me too. Cooking just for one is a pain in the rear. I try to cook good food for my wife, stuff that I’m going to like too. But when it’s just for me, I have a motivation problem.
About a year ago I spent several weeks on my own as Mrs. CB was gone. One day I was thinking that I was hungry for something good but quick. So I rummaged around in the freezer to see what I could find. And I found a lonely boneless loin chop just right for one.
I took it out to thaw in the fridge and left for work thinking about what to do with my chop that would be quick, easy and tasty. And then my brain said “pork-chop taco” and the rest is history—very tasty history. Here’s what I did:
Recipe: Green Chili Pork Chop Taco
Summary: Ever been “home alone” and wanted to come up with something quick, tasty and easy? Me too. Here’s a recipe for “Green Chili Pork Chop Taco” that fits the bill.
Ingredients
- • ½ lb pork chop (I used a boneless sirloin chop)
- • 1 cup Lettuce
- • 1 tomato diced
- • ½ cup diced onion
- • Tortillas or flat bread
- • Juice from 1 lime
- • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- • Chipotle or cayenne
- • Chili powder
- • Salt
- • Salsa Verde or Chili Verde (I used canned because it’s what I had)
Instructions
- Tenderize the porkchop in a plastic bag (whomp on it with a sauce pan or meat tenderizer until it’s about ½ inch thick).
- Cut the pork chop into ½ inch cubes.
- Put the cubes of meat in a bowl and add the lime juice, chipotle/cayenne, chili powder and salt along with a good squirt of vegetable oil (a tablespoon or 2).
- Stir to coat and then add the cornstarch and stir it up again. Let this sit for a bit.
- Next cut up your veggies. Dice the tomato and onion and cut or tear the lettuce into strips.
- Put a sauté pan on the stove over medium high heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of oil and let the pan get hot.
- Then add the meat. Stir it so that the individual cubes separate. You want a bit of heat so that the cornstarch helps the meat to get nice and crispy. This will take 5-7 minutes to cook.
- When done, remove the pan from the stove and you’re ready to build your tacos.
- Heat the tortillas or flatbread in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds on high to get them warm and pliable.
- Lay down some meat, lettuce, tomato, and onion. On top of this, add some salsa verde or chili verde.
- Now if you want a bit more heat, go ahead and add some hot sauce or more cayenne or whatever floats your boat.
- These were good with a hint of heat and a hint of acid from the lime. You can even add shredded cheese if you want.
Preparation time: 5 minute(s)
Cooking time: 10 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 2
This was just something I made up and threw together. It was actually really, really tasty. And really, really cheap. This made a half dozen tacos—enough for a dinner for 2 (actually for dinner last night and a good mini-meal when I got home from work Monday night.
The Cheap Bastid Test: Well, the chop was a half pound and I bought it for about $2.50 a pound, so it cost $1.25. The can of salsa verde was $.89, the tomato cost about $.35 and the onion was about $.20. And let’s just say that the tortillas cost about $.75. So what was the total? If my arithmetic is correct, it was $3.49. Not bad. These would have cost about 2 bucks each at our favorite taco joint or $8. And I definitely liked the way the lime and seasonings and salsa verde played with each other and the meat to create a terrific taste.
That’s the Cheap Bastid Way: Eat Good, Eat Cheap. Be Grateful!
Made a version of this last night with a couple of leftover corn tortillas, a little chunk of avocado and the last of a bunch of cilantro. Cleaned my fridge and had a yummy dinner all in one fell swoop. Thanks for all your recipes–truly an inspiration!
Peggy–Thanks for reading. You hit the nail right on the head with “cleaned my fridge and had a yummy dinner all in one fell swoop.” That’s what it’s all about. I’m just a simple cook who likes to try different things and share.