Cuban-Style Pork & Rice

[pnoon]

Apologies to Carlos if this isn't true Cuban style.
It is the recipe title - don't shoot the messenger.


Cuban-Style Pork & Rice

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cu...pork_rice.html
From EatingWell: March/April 2007

Full of spice and exotic flavors, this Cuban take on the classic Spanish paella is an easy way to feed a hungry crowd. Don't worry if you have leftovers. They can easily be rewarmed in a microwave or combined with eggs to make a Spanish tortilla (omelet); or for a great cold dish, toss the leftover rice with cooked vegetables and a vinaigrette made with lime juice instead of vinegar.

10 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each | Active Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 3/4 hours
Ingredients

* 1/4 cup paprika
* 1/4 cup lime juice
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
* 2 tablespoons rum, (optional)
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic, plus 2 tablespoons chopped garlic, divided
* 2 teaspoons fresh oregano, chopped
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, cumin
* 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork chops, (3/4-1 inch thick), trimmed, cut into cubes
* 2 cups onion, chopped
* 2 cups arborio rice, or short-grain brown rice
* 2 14-ounce cans reduced-sodium chicken broth
* 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
* 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
* 1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, (see Note)
* 16 large raw shrimp, (21-25 per pound), peeled and deveined (optional)
* 2 cups frozen artichoke hearts, thawed, or cooked green beans, fresh or frozen, thawed
* 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, cut into strips

Preparation

1. Combine paprika, lime juice, 2 tablespoons oil, rum (if using), 2 teaspoons minced garlic, oregano, salt, pepper and cumin in a medium bowl, stirring to make a homogeneous paste. Add pork and stir to coat.
2. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pork, leaving any excess spice mixture in the bowl to add later. Cook the pork, stirring, until just cooked on the outside and the spices are very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate.
3. Add onion and the remaining 2 tablespoons garlic to the pan and cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until well coated with the onion mixture. Stir in broth, tomatoes, capers, saffron and any remaining spice mixture. (If using brown rice, also add 3/4 cup water now.) Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes for arborio, 30 minutes for brown rice.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F.
5. Stir shrimp (if using) and artichokes (or green beans) into the rice. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Stir in the pork and any accumulated juices from the plate; scatter roasted peppers on top. Cover and continue baking until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed (if you’ve added shrimp, they should be opaque and pink), 10 to 15 minutes more.