Easy Weeknight Dish #2 - Lemon Pork Chops With Snap Pea and Tomato Quinoa Salad

I've been on a sort of quinoa salad roll lately. I love the bite and versatility of quinoa and the red version has a lovely color. It takes to dressings so well and I usually cook it in broth rather than plain water for extra flavor.

This is an easy dish that comes together in about 30 minutes, although you could let the pork marinate longer or even overnight.

Mangia!

Lemon Pork Chops With Snap Pea and Tomato Quinoa Salad

Adapted from Southern Living

6 (1/2-inch-thick) bone-in center-cut pork rib chops (about 4 lb.)

Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette*

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Ground pepper

1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

6 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa

4 cups chicken stock

1 (8-oz.) package fresh sugar snap peas

1 ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

1 garlic clove, sliced

1/3 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

1/4 cup chopped dry-roasted almonds

Combine lemon zest, minced garlic clove, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and some ground pepper to taste.  Brush some of the Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette lightly on both sides of the pork, reserving most of it for the salad. Rub pork chops with lemon/garlic/oregano seasoning. Sear half of pork in 2 1/2 Tbsp. hot olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until browned and cooked through. Keep pork warm on a wire rack in a 200° oven. Repeat procedure with 2 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil and remaining pork. Wipe skillet clean.

Bring quinoa, 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, and 4 cups water to a boil in large saucepan over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; drain. Return to saucepan; cover. Let stand 10 minutes.

Cut sugar snap peas in half crosswise. Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat; cook peas in hot oil 1 minute or until bright green and tender. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Add garlic and tomatoes; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat.

Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette

Juice of two lemons
1/4 cup olive oil
1 to cloves garlic, minced

Combine ingredients.