Pork & Spinach Salad

nutrient spotlight: iron one serving provides about 1/5 of your daily requirement (27 mg).

SERVES 4
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 16 minutes
1 pound pork tenderloin, fat trimmed
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup whole-wheat couscous
6 whole dried figs, chopped
1 cup red grapes, cut in half
2 ounces aged pasteurized goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
12 cups spinach leaves, washed

Heat grill to medium or oven to 375* F. Brush tenderloin with olive oil, then rub with cumin, coriander and several pinches of salt and pepper; grill or roast tenderloin on a foil-lined baking sheet in oven for 8 minutes on one side. Turn; cook for another 7 to 8 minutes, or until rosy but cooked through. Remove tenderloin from grill or oven; let stand for 1 minute, then cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

While pork cooks, bring 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add couscous, stir and turn off heat. Cover saucepan; let couscous rest for 10 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork; transfer to a medium bowl. When cool, add figs, grapes and goat cheese.

Whisk together honey and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl until honey dissolves. Pour half the dressing over couscous; gently toss to mix. Season with salt and pepper. Divide spinach among four large plates. Top with a portion of couscous mixture, followed by pork slices. Drizzle with remaining dressing.


Nutritional information per serving (3 cups spinach, 1 cup couscous mixture and 1/4 pound pork): 517 calories, 21% fat (12 g), 54% carbohydrate (70 g), 25% protein (32 g), 9 g fiber, 6 mg iron, 283 mg calcium, 196 mcg folate.