BBQ Pork Tenderloin with Romaine and Red Cabbage Slaw

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Are you looking for an easy, no-fuss meal that has all of the flavors of a summer bbq without slaving over the grill?? This recipe will be your answer.

Tender pork tenderloin cooked to perfection on the stove top with a side of crisp and crunchy slaw is perfect for a weeknight dinner or part of a weekend menu for entertaining (recipe can easily be doubled). It is also an excellent summer meal for those of you who might not have access to a grill.

 

Barbecue sauce is the highlight ingredient for the sauce and dressing.  I like to use my Western Carolina Tomato-Based Sauce, but you can use whatever bbq sauce your taste buds prefer.  Since the original recipe used cilantro in the slaw, I like to kick up the barbecue flavor with some chipotle in adobe.  It's optional of course, but it's really good! (See my tip HERE about how to store leftover chipotle peppers and adobe sauce.) I also add a bit of mayo for a creamier dressing and I add some chopped scallions to complete the flavor profile for the salad.

If you do decide to make this for entertaining a crowd,  I recommend my Mango Guacamole as an appetizer and for dessert...stay tuned.

Chopped Salad with Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts

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Looking for something light, but hearty for lunch or dinner?  How about something to serve your vegetarian guests during the holidays? This salad will be your answer.  It is showstopper in color, texture and, most importantly, flavor.

The star of this salad is the butternut squash.; roasted until tender and lightly caramelized.  This squash is high in fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.  And although is is heavy on the carb scale, it is low on the glycemic index,  making it an excellent addition to your daily nutrition.   It is also referred to as a vegan protein, but you would have to supplement with other lean proteins like...romaine!  Did you know that one head of romaine has 8 grams of protein and is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.  Yes,  even though it is not talked about much, romaine is considered a superfood.  The other supporting elements in this salad come from an apple (an apple a day...), goat cheese (I love a good cheese), and radicchio. 

Radicchio is kind of a hit or miss for some people because it does have a strong bitter taste.  However, you can weaken that taste in this salad by cutting it into smaller pieces and soaking it in water (you need to wash it anyways).  By cutting it into smaller pieces and soaking it, you create more surface area for the bitter taste to bleed out into the water. (You can also grill or roast radicchio to tame the bitterness, but I'll save that idea for another recipe post.)

Toss all of these lovely mind and body healthy ingredients together with a simple and scrumptious balsamic vinaigrette and you have...Wait, I almost forgot the HAZELNUTS!!  Ok, now you have a powerhouse of a salad!

Some of you might ask, "Can I substitute the goat cheese and hazelnuts with another cheese or nut?" I say, "Of course you can!" 

Here are some nut and cheese combinations that work for my taste buds-

Goat cheese w/ hazelnuts or pistachios

Blue cheese w/ pecans or walnuts

Feta cheese w/ almonds

As always- Make it for you, make it your own! Happy cooking!