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Pork with Pesto and Pasta

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Filled with fresh ingredients, this pork with pesto pasta is perfect for a quick evening meal.

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Serves: 4

Cooking Skill: Easy

Ingredients

4 lean pork loin medallions or 4 loin steaks, fat removed

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

350g dried tagliatelle or pappardelle pasta

16 cherry or baby plum tomatoes, halved

For the pesto

1x125g pack baby spinach leaves

50g pistachio kernels

2 garlic cloves, peeled

25g freshly grated Parmesan cheese

25g freshly chopped parsley

4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Method

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C, 160°C Fan, Gas Mark 4. Place the pork on a board between two layers of cling film. Using the base of a small saucepan or rolling pin, bash them all over until they are 1cm thick.

Step 2

In a shallow dish, mix together the lemon zest and juice, parsley and oil. Season. Add the pork and coat on both sides. Cover and leave aside for 10 minutes.

Step 3

Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling water for about 10 minutes, or according to pack instructions, until just tender. Drain the pasta (reserving about 200ml of the pasta cooking water) and return to the pan to keep warm.

Step 4

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick, ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat. Add the pork and cook for 3 minutes on one side. Turn pork over, add the tomatoes and transfer the pan to the middle shelf of the oven for a further 6–8 minutes, or until cooked through and the meat juices run clear.

Step 5

To make the pesto, place the spinach, pistachios, garlic, Parmesan and parsley in a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped. Then, add the olive oil and whizz until smooth. Add 3–4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water or hot water to loosen.

Step 6

Stir most of the pesto through the pasta in the pan, adding a little more of the pasta water to loosen, if needed, then divide between four plates, slice each medallion or loin steak and place on top of the pasta with the roasted tomatoes. Drizzle with the reserved pesto and serve immediately with a grind of black pepper.

Tips and Serving Suggestions

If preferred use 2–3 tablespoons of prepared pesto instead.

Each serving provides

Based on medallions

Energy

2267kj

537kcal

28%

Fat

17.2g

24%

Saturates

3.6g

18%

Sugars

4.8g

Salt

0.35g

% of an adult's Reference intake

Typical energy values per 100g: 828kJ, 196kcal, 6.3g fat, 1.3g saturates

Each serving provides: 28.9g Protein, 68g Carbohydrate, 5.5g Fibre

If different cuts of meat are used, then the nutrition info may vary