Charred Pork with Roasted Jalapeno Tomato Sauce over Spaghetti Squash
One of the things that brings my wife and I so much happiness is to garden together. Second to that is cooking from our garden. To plant the seeds, nurture them, watch them grow with excitement and then to harvest with much anticipation, it only seems right to make those ingredients shine. This recipe is one of our favorites and most times, we leave the pork out of the dish, making the vegetables center stage.
Ingredients per serving
Prepare the Sauce
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Roma tomatoes, quartered 7.0 each
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Jalapenos, cut in half 3.0 each
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Olive oil 3.0 Tbsp
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Kosher salt, to taste
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Black pepper, ground
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Purple basil, fresh, chiffonade 0.25 cup
Prepare the Spaghetti Squash
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Spaghetti squash, large 1.0 each
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Clarified Butter 3.0 Tbsp
Prepare the Charred Pork
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Clarified Butter 2.0 Tbsp
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Ground Pork 1.0 lb
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Water 3.0 Tbsp
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Super sweet Texas onion 1.0 each
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Garlic clove, minced 6.0 each
Prepare the Roasted Eggplant
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Mini Eggplant (Hansel, Gretel, or Fairytale), cut lengthwise 12.0 each
Finish the Dish
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Feta cheese crumbles 4.0 Tbsp
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Purple basil, fresh, chiffonade 12.0 leaves
Preparation
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Prepare the Sauce
- In a bowl, combine tomatoes and jalapenos with olive oil, salt and black pepper. Mix well.
- Place on sheet tray lined with parchment paper and roast in a 425F oven until jalapenos are tender.
- Remove from oven and place in saucepot. Cover and bring to a simmer.
- Add the Knorr Ultimate Vegetable Base and basil. Stir well and puree. Keep warm.
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Prepare the Spaghetti Squash
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, remove the seeds.
- Place on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Place cut side up.
- Season inside of both halves and add 1 ½ Tbsp of clarified butter per half. Roast until tender, about 30 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Use a fork to remove the strands of the squash.
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Prepare the Charred Pork
- Heat the clarified butter in a nonstick sauté pan.
- Add the ground pork, breaking up with a spoon.
- Cook until it is lightly charred.
- In a small bowl, mix the Knorr Ultimate Vegetable Base with the water.
- Add vegetable base, onions and garlic to the pork.
- Cover and cook until onions are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
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Prepare the Roasted Eggplant
- Toss the eggplant in a bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Place on a sheet plan lined with parchment paper and roast until tender.
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Finish the Dish
- Place hot spaghetti squash in a pasta bowl. Add a few pieces of mini eggplant. Top squash with 4 ounces of pork, jalapeno tomato sauce, feta cheese and Thai basil.
