Description
Succulent garlic butter pork bites with lemon green beans offer a delightful dance of flavors from Mediterranean kitchens. Crispy edges and zesty undertones create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 grams) pork tenderloin or boneless pork chops, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 12 oz (340 grams) fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps olive oil (divided)
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter (divided)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Thoroughly massage pork cubes with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder, ensuring comprehensive flavor infusion into each morsel.
- Searing Technique: Heat olive oil in a skillet until shimmering, then strategically place seasoned meat in a single layer to develop a rich, caramelized exterior through precise 2-3 minute rotations, achieving a golden-brown crust and maintaining an internal temperature of 145F/63C.
- Sauce Development: Lower skillet heat, melt butter, and briefly sauté minced garlic to create an aromatic foundation, then reintroduce seared pork cubes, gently coating them in the fragrant garlic butter.
- Final Flourish: Delicately garnish the glistening pork bites with freshly chopped parsley, simultaneously preparing lemon-infused green beans as a vibrant, zesty accompaniment.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Selection: Choose pork cuts with moderate marbling like tenderloin or sirloin for tender, juicy bites that caramelize beautifully without excessive fat.
- Control Searing Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat between 400-450°F to achieve perfect golden-brown crust without burning seasonings or meat surface.
- Prevent Overcrowding: Cook pork cubes in batches if needed, ensuring each piece has adequate pan space for proper searing and preventing steaming instead of caramelization.
- Season Generously: Massage seasonings thoroughly into meat at least 15 minutes before cooking to allow deeper flavor absorption and more consistent taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg