Trying New Cuban Recipes

I've had a batch of Cuban recipes sitting around untried for ages. I always tend to slip into cooking my very favorites (masitas de puerco, maduros, moros y cristos) & don't get to the new stuff. I'm glad I did tonight, although I did stick with pork. LOL!

Costillas de Puerco

6 pork chops, cut to 1" thickness
4 cloves garlic, peeled
Salt & pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 c. orange juice + 1/8 c. lime juice (or 1/3 c. sour orange juice, if it's available in your area)
1/2 c. dry white wine
1/4 c. oil

Mash garlic with seasonings into a paste. Mix with liquids and pour over pork chops. Chill 1-4 hours. Blot dry and brown in oil. Add marinade and simmer, uncovered, about an hour, until liquid is gone. Serve on a bed of machuquillo. Serves 6.

Machuquillo

3 green plantains, peeled & cut into 2" pieces
1 tbsp. lime juice
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. smashed chicharrones (pork rinds)
1 tbsp. oil

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Toss plantains with lime juice. Mash garlic and chicharrones into a paste. Drop plantains and lime juice into boiling water. Boil 25 minutes, then drain. Mash, then add garlic mixture. Heat the oil and cook plantains, stirring (or they'll really stick!), for about a minute to heat through and evaporate excess moisture. Serves 6.

I served this with salad. By the way, the pork is 6 Points per serving and the machuquillo is 3.