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Marinade Gives Pork, Rice Zesty Flavor

Nancy Byal Better Homes And Gardens Magazine

Marinated pork makes a spicy filling for tortillas. The zesty flavors of salsa, lime juice and beer soak into the meat for several hours before cooking. After draining the meat, you save the marinade to flavor the quick-cooking rice.

Citrus Pork with Chunky Guacamole

1-1/4 pounds pork tenderloin

1 cup salsa

1/2 cup lime juice

1/2 cup beer

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon snipped cilantro or parsley

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 recipe chunky guacamole (recipe below)

12 flour tortillas

1-1/2 cups quick-cooking rice

Nonfat yogurt (optional)

Sliced green onion (optional)

Partially freeze pork; thinly slice across the grain into bite-size strips. Place the pork in a plastic bag set in a bowl. Combine salsa, lime juice, beer, garlic, cilantro or parsley, cumin, red pepper and black pepper. Pour over pork; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours. Prepare chunky guacamole; cover and chill.

Wrap tortillas in foil. Heat in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes to soften. For rice, drain pork and set aside; reserve marinade. Add enough water to marinade to equal 1-1/2 cups. In a saucepan bring marinade mixture to boiling. Add rice. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, spray a 10-inch skillet with nonstick cooking spray; preheat over medium heat. Add half of the pork to the skillet. Stir-fry for 4 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from skillet using a slotted spoon; drain liquid if necessary. Repeat with remaining pork.

To serve, fill tortillas with pork and chunky guacamole. Top with nonfat yogurt and sliced green onion, if desired. Roll up. Serve with hot rice.

Yield: 6 servings.

Chunky Guacamole: Halve, seed, peel and cube 2 avocados. In a bowl combine avocados and 3 tablespoons each of lemon juice and salsa. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.

Nutrition information per serving: 621 calories, 19 grams fat (28 percent fat calories), 67 milligrams cholesterol, 31 grams protein, 84 grams carbohydrate.