Pork Scallopini with Fennel and Caper Salsa Verde

Pork Scallopini with Fennel and Caper Salsa Verde

Every once and a while I want a good filling meal but it has to fit into my rules. It has to be inexpensive and it has to be easy to make.
I found such a recipe. It was for my favorite meat pork and what I liked about it is its light and so good!
Here is what I found:

Pork Scallopini with Fennel and Caper Salsa Verde

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. dried fennel (use fresh when you can get it and its affordable)
  1 Tbsp.  parsley
1 Tbsp. minced shallots or onions
1 clove garlic, finely grated  or 1 teaspoon of ready to  used minced garlic

1 lemon, zested, lemon reserved
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb pork trim all the fat from it.
Sea salt
Fresh-ground black pepper

Directions:

1.  In a bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients with all but 1 Tbsp. olive oil.

 Set oil aside also set aside one tablespoon of fennel for later.

2.  Trim the very top and bottoms from the zested lemons, then halve each and remove the seeds  Set aside.

3. Slice the pork loin into 4 equal portions. 

4. Gently score both sides of each slice with the tip of a sharp knife, 

5.  lightly brush the meat with olive oil. Place each slice of pork, spaced well apart, 6. on a counter or cutting board and cover the surface with plastic wrap.

Pound with a flat-surfaced mallet until 1/2 inch in thickness.

7.  Remove the plastic and season each portion on both sides with the fennel seed, salt, and pepper.

8. Heat remaining oil in a medium-hot cast iron pan.

 9. Add the pork and cook until brown, about 2 minutes per side. 

10. Transfer to a cutting board to rest for about 3 minutes. 

11. In the same pan, cook the reserved lemon halves until brown and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.

12. Place 1 portion of pork on each plate, spoon salsa verde on top, and serve with lemon slices.

I have priced out the cost of making the salsa verde and it does not make sense if you are on a budget. If you like it homemade then it will be a splurge.

I say just but a small container in the deli dept of the grocery store.

This is also a great romantic dinner for that special someone. They will believe you spent hours instead of minutes to make this wonderful dinner.

 Serve with mashed potatoes and enjoy!