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Grilled Pork Cutlets with Cilantro and Lime

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on November 9, 2011

Time

25 minutes, plus 30 minutes marinating

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Grilled Pork Cutlets with Cilantro and Lime

Ingredients

⅓ cup lime juice (from 3 limes)⅓ cup olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro ¾ teaspoon brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¾ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 12 thin-cut boneless pork chops (about 2 pounds), prepared according to photo

Before You Begin

Boneless pork chops are typically lean; trim any excess fat as necessary. Marinting for more than 2 hours will make the chops rubbery.

Instructions

  1. Combine lime juice, oil, garlic, cilantro, cumin, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in large zipper-lock plastic bag. Transfer chops to bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  2. Remove cutlets from bag and discard marinade. Grill cutlets over hot fire until bottom begins to turn opaque around edges, about 2 minutes. Flip cutlets and grill until just cooked through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to platter, tent with foil, and let rest 5 minutes. Serve.
Grilled Pork Cutlets with Cilantro and Lime

Grilled Pork Cutlets with Cilantro and Lime

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

25 minutes, plus 30 minutes marinating

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

⅓ cup lime juice (from 3 limes)
⅓ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
¾ teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
12 thin-cut boneless pork chops (about 2 pounds), prepared according to photo

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

⅓ cup lime juice (from 3 limes)
⅓ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
¾ teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
12 thin-cut boneless pork chops (about 2 pounds), prepared according to photo

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

⅓ cup lime juice (from 3 limes)
⅓ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
¾ teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
12 thin-cut boneless pork chops (about 2 pounds), prepared according to photo

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Although they are the same size as chicken cutlets, pork cutlets are not as tender. This didn’t deter us from setting out to create a grilled pork cutlets recipe that kept the meat moist and tender. While developing our Grilled Pork Cutlets with Cilantro and Lime recipe, we found that cutlets made from pounding pork chops to a uniform thickness cooked up much more consistently that prepackaged cutlets. Grilling one side of the cutlets over medium-high heat, then finishing them for 30 seconds on the other side gave the meat a chance to brown and allowed them to develop a nice char. Lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and cilantro form the base of our recipe’s marinade, and a last-minute addition of brown sugar softened the acidity of the lime juice and helped produce caramelization on the cutlets.

Before You Begin

Boneless pork chops are typically lean; trim any excess fat as necessary. Marinting for more than 2 hours will make the chops rubbery.

Instructions

  1. Combine lime juice, oil, garlic, cilantro, cumin, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in large zipper-lock plastic bag. Transfer chops to bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  2. Remove cutlets from bag and discard marinade. Grill cutlets over hot fire until bottom begins to turn opaque around edges, about 2 minutes. Flip cutlets and grill until just cooked through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to platter, tent with foil, and let rest 5 minutes. Serve.

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