with Jasmine Rice, Charred Green Pepper, Salsa Fresca & Smoky Crema

Yield: 2

Steamy jasmine rice is topped with saucy spiced ground pork, charred long green pepper and onion, salsa fresca, and smoky red pepper crema.
Prep: 10 Cook: 25

• ½cup jasmine rice
• 5tsp white wine vinegar
• 10oz ground pork
• 1tomato
• 1onion
• 1long green pepper
• 2scallions
• 2TBS smoky red pepper crema
• 1oz Tex-Mex paste
• salt & pepper
• 2tsp cooking oil

Cook rice:

In a small pot, combine rice, ¾ cup water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Prep:

While rice cooks, wash and dry produce.

Finely dice tomato. Halve, peel, and cut onion into ½-inch-thick wedges, mince one wedge until you have 1 TBS. Core, deseed, and dice long green pepper into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.

Make salsa & crema:

In a small bowl, combine tomato, minced onion, and half the vinegar. Season with salt.

Place smoky red pepper crema in a separate small bowl. Stir in water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency.

Cook veggies:

Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add long green pepper and onion wedges. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly charred, 7- to 9-minutes.

Transfer to a plate.

Cook pork:

Heat a drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add pork, scallion whites, and a big pinch of salt. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 4- to 6-minutes.

Stir in Tex-Mex paste and ¼ cup water until combined. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture is saucy, and pork is cooked through, 1- to 2-minutes more.

Finish & serve:

Fluff rice with a fork. Season with salt and pepper.

Tip: Stir in 1 TBS butter for extra richness.

Divide rice between bowls and top with veggies, pork, salsa, crema, and any remaining sauce from pan. Garnish with scallion greens and serve.