Flavorful pork a snap to make

This week, we are preparing a very tasty pork dish that we are serving with green rice.

PORK WITH GREEN RICE

Ingredients

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into small chunks

1 cup chopped onion

4 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tablespoons achiote

3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1⁄2 cup chopped bell peppers

1 cup chopped tomato

12 chopped green olives

1 cup water

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

Salt and pepper, to taste

For the rice:

2 cups long-grain rice

3 cups water

1⁄2 cup chopped onion

1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro

1 bell pepper, chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

Putting it together

In a very hot sauté pan over high heat, add the oil and the pork and cook for about five minutes, until golden brown. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove pork from pan and set aside.

In the same pan without washing it, add the onion and cook it for about three minutes or until golden brown, add the garlic and cook it for about half a minute, add the achiote and cook for about one minute, add the rest of the ingredients except for the lemon, salt and pepper and cook for about three minutes.

Add the lemon juice and zest and adjust the seasoning by adding salt and pepper to taste. Put the pork back in the pan and cook for about one hour or until the meat is tender.

Meanwhile, in a separate pan, add the rice and toast for about one minute over medium heat. Add the water, onion, cilantro and bell pepper to a blender and puree until smooth. Add the blended mixture to the pan with the rice. Turn the heat to low and cook for about 20 minutes, then turn the heat off and let the rice rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve the pork over some of the green rice and enjoy.

Antonio Villagomez is head chef and owner of Cilantro's restaurant and catering in Yuba City, Calif. Contact him at 530-844-2111. His website is cilantros.us.