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Recipe: Goat Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Pork Chops


Look no further for a fast and frugal gourmet meal

by Fowler Martens

photo by Andrew Gillmore, London, Ontario, 2012.

Think it’s impossible to make a gourmet meal for two in twenty minutes, for less than twenty dollars? Think again! Based on restaurant dish prices, I always thought that my love of goat cheese would be a budget-breaker, but when I created this recipe I learned that a little bit could really go a long way. This easy-to-make dish is a sure-fire way to impress anyone you’re cooking for, all without breaking the bank.

Goat Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Pork Chops 

Served with Angel Hair Pasta

Serves 2


Ingredients:

4 boneless butterfly-cut pork chops
1 tbsp butter
3 tbsp garlic & herb marinade
½ red pepper, sliced
1 tsp garlic powder
70 g goat cheese (about ½ a small package)
100 g angel hair pasta
2 cups water
1 tsp olive oil

 

  1. Poke approximately 5 holes in each pork chop with a fork. Place in a baking dish, and cover them in 3 tbsp of your favourite garlic and herb marinade (I usually choose Diana brand, but there are definitely cheaper options, including making your own marinade at home). Cover and place in the refrigerator. Marinate for at least 30 minutes per side; for more flavour, marinate longer.
  2. Using a paring (or other sharp) knife, cut red pepper into slices half a centimetre thick.
  3. Heat a medium-sized frying pan to medium heat on a large burner. Cook marinated pork chops 6 minutes per side.
  4. In a small frying pan at medium heat, melt the butter. Add the red pepper slices and sprinkle them with garlic powder to taste. Cook for 7-10 minutes uncovered, stirring frequently.
  5. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring water and olive oil to a boil. Boil the angel hair pasta for about 4 minutes; drain.
  6. Once the pork chops are cooked, arrange them on a plate and crumble the goat cheese on top. Place the cooked red peppers on top. Serve with pasta on the side.
photo by Andrew Gillmore, London, Ontario, 2012

This dish is really easy to make, and since it’s pretty basic there are plenty of other directions to take it by just switching out an ingredient or two! If you want to save a little bit of money, opt for a green pepper instead. For those who want an extra kick, add a dash of red pepper flakes to the top before serving. For the garlic-haters out there, there are tons of exciting marinades available to try instead, and of course if you want to get a little bit more creative, you can substitute the pasta for a more elaborate side dish.

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