Grilled Cuban-Style Pork Chops with Seasoned Black Beans

Citrus and savory spices come together in a delicious rub for pork chops. Marinated overnight to achieve maximum flavor, these Latin-inspired chops are served with seasoned black beans.

Aug 23, 2022

It’s still grilling season and today’s recipe features pork chops. Thanks to changes in breeding and feeding practices, many cuts of pork are significantly leaner than they were years ago.

When it comes to selecting lean pork chops, you my notice a few options in the grocery store – sirloin pork chops, New York pork chops (sometimes called center cut chops), porterhouse pork chops (T-bone shape), and ribeye pork chops. All of these options meet the food labeling definition for lean (less than 10 grams total fat, no more than 4.5 grams saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams cholesterol). In fact, the leanest option, a sirloin pork chop, meets the definition of extra lean (less than 5 grams total fat, less than 2 grams saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams cholesterol). These lean and extra lean definitions are based on a 3 1/2-ounce cooked portion of meat.

Nutritionally speaking, pork provides high-quality protein and is an excellent source of several B-vitamins, which help the body produce energy. It also supplies selenium, a mineral essential for a healthy immune system.

Keep today’s pork chops tender and juicy by not overcooking them. For pork chops and other whole cuts of pork, the recommend internal safe temperature is 145 degrees. For an accurate reading, place a digital-read food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat, not allowing it to touch the bone. Once 145 degrees is reached, remove the chops from the grill and allow them to rest for three minutes before cutting or serving. This safe cooked temperature leaves the meat juicy with a pink blush in the middle. Just as an aside, when cooking ground pork or any ground meat, a safe internal cooked temperature is 160 degrees.

To your health,

Darlene

GRILLED CUBAN-STYLE PORK CHOPS with SEASONED BLACK BEANS

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Size: 1 grilled pork chop with 1/2 cup seasoned black beans

Prep: 20 minutes

Ready: 35 minutes (not including marinating time)

INGREDIENTS

1 teaspoon lime zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1 teaspoon granulated onion or onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 (4 ounces each) bone-in, sirloin pork chops

Seasoned Black Beans

1 can (15 ounce) black beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Remaining Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced cilantro

DIRECTIONS

To prepare pork chops: in a small dish combine lime zest, orange zest, brown sugar, cumin, granulated garlic, granulated onion, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Rub spice mixture on both sides of pork chops that have been patted dry with paper towel. Place in a glass dish large enough to allow each chop to lay flat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
To prepare seasoned black beans: in a medium bowl combine black beans, red pepper, onion, and jalapeno pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Pour dressing over black bean mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend.
When ready to cook, prepare outdoor grill and oil grill grates with vegetable oil to prevent pork chops from sticking. Cook chops about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Remove pork from grill and allow to rest for 3 minutes. Season pork chops with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt.
Each serving consists of one grilled pork chop and a 1/2 cup seasoned black beans garnished with minced cilantro.

Nutrition Information per Serving

293 Calories, 11 g Total fat, 2 g Saturated fat, 0 g Trans fat, 65 mg Cholesterol, 561 mg Sodium, 24 g Total carbohydrate, 8 g Dietary fiber, 3 g Total sugars, 1 g Added sugars, 28 g Protein, 1 mcg (6%) Vitamin D, 72 mg (6%) Calcium, 3 mg (15%) Iron, 850 mg (20%) Potassium