LIGHTLY SPICED PORK CHOPS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Serves 4 • Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking time: 8–10 minutes per batch of chops

• 4 thick-cut pork loin chops, rind removed, fat trimmed

• 5ml olive oil

• steamed brown rice, fresh avo and mixed salad leaves, to serve

SPICE RUB

• 10ml mustard powder

• 15ml light brown sugar

• 10ml paprika

• 10ml garlic powder

• 10ml onion powder

• a large pinch each salt and black pepper (see tip)

SALSA

• 1 small pineapple, peeled

• ½ cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

• 2 large red chillies, chopped

• 1 small bunch fresh coriander, chopped

• juice of 1 lime

1 Mix all the ingredients for the spice rub together. Tip I only mix a large pinch of salt and pepper into the rub so that diners can add salt at the table if they wish. This makes the rub family-friendly, but feel free to add more at the start along with crushed chilli flakes, if you like a bit of a bite, dried herbs and even lemon zest. Experiment!

2 Rub the chops with the oil and then spice generously with the rub. Allow to marinate while you make the salsa. This brings the meat back to room temperature and gives the spices time to flavour the meat.

3 Cut the peeled pineapple into wedges and remove the hard core from each piece.

Chop the remaining pineapple into small pieces and mix with the cucumber, chilli and coriander. Sprinkle with the lime juice.

4 Place the chops in the air fryer basket, two at a time (don’t overlap), and cook for 5 minutes at 195°C. Turn the chops over and, depending on the size, cook for another 3–5 minutes.

Allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before serving on a bed of steamed rice with the sweet pineapple salsa, creamy avo and crunchy salad leaves. If you want to add a sauce, feel free to serve the dish with your favourite.

Tip The rub is enough for 6–8 chops. If you have any left over, store it in an airtight container for next time.

COOK’S NOTE (OPPOSITE) Cooking times might vary, depending on your air fryer and the size of your pork fillet roll. Be sure to check your pork early if in doubt. An air fryer cooks food faster because of its compact internal size, which lets heat reach the food quicker. If you don’t have an air fryer and want to bake the stuffed pork fillets in your oven, preheat it to 180°C and roast for about 35 minutes, turning the meat over once.