Monday 25 May 2009

Recipe - Pork Loin Steaks with Sweet Potato and Banana Mash served with a Citrus Reduction


There was two pork loin steaks in the package I bought so I had to think of something to make with the other one as well.

Many a moon ago I had dinner in a Cuban-esque seafood restaurant outside Boston, MA. That night I had griddled swordfish with a sweet potato and banana mash. Sweet potato and banana might not be a taste combination that attract you, give it a chance though. It is really good. I always make my normal potato mash really creamy but when it comes to sweet potato mash I prefer it to be a bit more firm. If you like it different, add some milk or creme fraiche to this base recipe.

As for the pork, this orange and garlic marinade is something I use time after time. It is probably the best pork marinade I've ever tried. If you try this and still think that yours is better - let me have your recipe so I can try it.

Enough of me singing my marinades praise, over to the recipe...

Ingredients (serves 4 or so)
Pork
Pork loin steaks
Freshly squeezed orange juice, about 300 - 500 ml
The juice from 1 lime
2 - 3 cloves of garlic, roughly crushed
Salt
Pepper

Sweet potato and banana mash

4 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 medium sized ripe banana, mashed with a spoon
Maple syrup
Salt
Pepper

Method
Pour all of the parts for the marinade into a plastic freezer bag, add the pork steaks - making sure to cover all of them. Marinade for a minimum of three hours.

Once marinated, fish out the pork steaks and put to the side. Pour the liquid through a sieve into a pan, discard the solids. Bring the liquid to a boil and simmer until reduced to almost a syrup. When you think you have reduced it enough, give it some more time on the hob. Put to the side.

Boil the sweet potato for about 8 - 10 minutes or until tender. Mash and stir in the banana. Add a good glug or two of maple syrup and season to taste.

Grill the pork until done. Reheat the citrus reduction whilst grilling.

Plate the mash, pop a steak on top and pour on some citrus reduction on each steak.

Enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. Nice to find your blog. Your dishes are special, like your steaks. Banana mash sounds interesting.

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  2. Many thanks for your kind comments!

    Yeah, banana mash is a bit different but it is a very nice side.

    Give it a go - hopefully you'll enjoy it!

    // Mike

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  3. Just wanted to thank you for the pork marinade recipe - I've used it several times since you posted it and have never had better!!

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  4. Denay,

    Many thanks for your kind words and I'm really happy to hear that you've found the recipe this useful.

    It's a very simple marinade, but I guess that is what makes it so good as well.

    I hope you'll continue to have use for it for a long time.

    // Mike

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Please leave a comment. Positive or negative - all comments are welcome and useful. I do enjoy hearing what you think of my posts, what is good and what needs improving so please post away.

// Mike