Grilled Mojo Pork with Charred Corn

Citrusy garlic mojo brightens juicy grilled pork chops, while smoky corn and peak-summer tomatoes make a fresh Cuban-inspired side.

Ingredients

  • Boneless Pork Loin Chop
    2 chops, about 12 ounces total $6.21
  • Bi-color Corn
    2 ears, husks removed $0.79
  • Vine On Tomato
    2 medium tomatoes $2.79
  • Sweet Onion
    1/2 small onion $1.66
  • Cilantro Bunch
    1/4 cup chopped leaves and tender stems $1.19
  • Lime
    2 limes $0.69
  • Orange juice
    1/4 cup
  • Garlic
    3 cloves
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
    2 tablespoons
  • Ground cumin
    1 teaspoon
  • Dried oregano
    1 teaspoon
  • Smoked paprika
    1/2 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    1 1/2 teaspoons
  • Black pepper
    1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Preheat a grill to medium-high, about 425–450°F. Dice 2 medium tomatoes, finely dice 1/2 small sweet onion, chop 1/4 cup cilantro, and separately zest and juice 2 limes.
  2. Mix the zest and juice of 1 lime, 1/4 cup orange juice, 3 grated garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Coat 2 pork chops, about 12 ounces total, in the mojo and marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  3. Rub 2 ears corn with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  4. Grill 2 seasoned ears corn for 10–12 minutes, turning every few minutes, until lightly charred. At the same time, grill 2 marinated pork chops for 4–6 minutes per side, closing the lid between turns, until their centers reach 145°F.
  5. Transfer 2 grilled pork chops to a board and rest for 5 minutes; let 2 grilled ears corn cool enough to handle during the same 5 minutes.
  6. Cut the kernels from 2 grilled ears corn and toss them with 2 diced tomatoes, 1/2 diced sweet onion, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, the zest and juice of 1 lime, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
  7. Slice 2 rested pork chops and divide them between 2 plates, spooning the corn-tomato mixture made from 2 ears corn and 2 tomatoes alongside.

Total time: 40 minutes

Estimated cost: $13–$17 for 2 servings, based on listed ingredient prices

Health notes: Approximately 500 calories per serving, with about 40 grams of protein and a balanced portion of vegetables and carbohydrates.

Drink pairing: A crisp Sauvignon Blanc complements the lime-garlic mojo and sweet grilled corn.